BWC Pilot Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the Use of Body Worn Cameras in Acute Mental Health Wards: A Pilot Study
IRAS ID
301907
Contact name
Alan Simpson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King’s College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 30 days
Research summary
Body worn cameras (BWC) are mobile audio and video capture devices that can be secured to various parts of the body using different types of attachment, allowing the wearer to record some of what they see and hear. These have recently been introduced in the NHS as part of the violence reduction strategy (2019). It is important that research is conducted to explore the impact of BWC implementation on service users and staff in the complex settings of mental health care wards. There has been little independent evaluation of the implementation of BWCs in these settings, and less attention paid to the impact that BWCs have on service users’ experiences and on the therapeutic environment of the ward. London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) intend to pilot the use of BWCs on some of their mental health wards. We aim to conduct an independent evaluation of this pilot to form a detailed understanding of the feasibility of evaluating this technology within such settings and to inform future practice across the Trust.
The design of this evaluation will triangulate qualitative interview data, quantitative survey data, ward activity/ routinely collected data to evaluate the process of implementing BWCs in practice. Our researchers will attend wards implementing the cameras to assist in collecting survey data via a portable tablet and 1-2-1 interviews with staff, service users and visitors/carers. Where covid-19 restrictions occur ward staff/research champions will support data collection and survey materials will have trigger warnings and information to ensure participants can make informed choice in participating/skip sensitive questions.
This data will provide insight into how the use of BWCs can affect nursing practice/skills, and confidence, highlighting effects on patients’ experiences and subjective feelings of safety, and provide an indication of the effect on ward culture. It will also test whether a nurse-led trial around BWCs is feasible, and sustainable.REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/0179
Date of REC Opinion
14 Mar 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion