Leveraging Quick Response Codes in Urology to Promote Patient Education While Contributing to Sustainable Healthcare Practices: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background Providing patients with sufficient information about the planned procedure they will undergo, including the risks, benefits, and appropriate alternatives, forms a cornerstone of the high standards of care that a urologist provides. Our current standard for delivering information is printed patient information leaflets (PILs) following a consultation with a urologist in a clinic or via telemedicine. Our study considers the feasibility and potential of leveraging quick response (QR) codes for PILs to promote sustainable healthcare practices among urologists. Methods The authors conducted a retrospective study, including all patients who attended the one-stop lower urinary tract symptom clinic in a single month in 2024. Results In our study, 73.2% of respondents had used a QR code in the past, and 65.9% of patients preferred to use PILs generated with a QR code as their primary source of information regarding their procedure. Conclusion QR codes can be effectively promoted among patients, with printed PILs offered to those preferring physical copies. With the increasing uptake and use of smartphones, QR code-generated PILs have the potential to enhance patient education and improve sustainability in healthcare.