Continuous monitoring to detect clinical deterioration
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Continuous respiratory rate and pulse oximetry monitoring using wearable sensors for early detection of clinical deterioration
IRAS ID
323900
Contact name
Sherif Gonem
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Innovation, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Patients in hospital are monitored by periodically measuring vital signs such as the heart rate, breathing rate and oxygen levels. This is usually done every 4-6 hours by ward nursing staff. If the vital signs are abnormal then this can indicate a problem such as respiratory failure.
We have recently introduced a new wearable monitoring system into our hospital called RespiraSense. This is a patch which is worn on the chest and measures the breathing rate. There is also an optional device which fits on a finger and measures the heart rate and oxygen levels. The information from the wearable monitors is sent via a wireless link to a central console, where it can be viewed by ward nurses. We have set up these monitors on three wards that treat people with lung conditions.
The aim of this study is to find out whether the RespiraSense devices are accurate, and whether they can detect clinical problems earlier and more effectively than periodic measurements of vital signs. We will do this by comparing measurements of breathing rate made with RespiraSense with those recorded by ward nurses. We will also extract information about clinical problems from the electronic medical records and analyse the data to see if the wearable monitors could allow problems to be picked up sooner than periodic vital sign measurements. We will focus on episodes of fast breathing, as these can indicate important problems such as sepsis or respiratory failure.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
23/WA/0160
Date of REC Opinion
25 May 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion