DREAM Path
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Domiciliary recovery after medicalisation Pathway
IRAS ID
244239
Contact name
John D. Kelly
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2018/07/95, UCL Data Protection Registration
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
More than 15 in 100 patients undergoing major surgery are re-admitted to hospital within 30 days after being discharged.
In hospital, patients are constantly monitored using the national early warning score, which combines metrics such as blood pressure, heart rate and temperature. The total score is used to prioritise patients for review. On discharge from hospital, this monitoring stops and patients are given information on how to contact the hospital, general practitioner or emergency department if they feel unwell. Despite this, nearly a quarter of deaths following surgery occur during the first month after hospital discharge.
In previous studies, researchers have tested the use of telephone follow-up and patient-completed questionnaires after discharge. This has been useful in reducing complications by enabling early intervention, and reducing patient anxiety. However, this process is labour-intensive, and this has limited its adoption. Smart technology may offer us the tools to solve this problem.
Smart healthcare devices can collect and seamlessly transfer data over Bluetooth, 4G, etc. Wrist-worn step trackers and heart rate trackers found in commercially available devices such as the Apple Watch and Fitbit are examples of smart technology. More sophisticated healthcare tools such as blood pressure monitors also come with sensors that can wirelessly transmit new recordings to a smartphone. In addition, smartphones can be used to deliver questionnaires to patients.
DREAM Path will explore whether patients will be able to use a home monitoring kit after going home following major surgery. Our main aim in this study is to understand if patients will find the Home And Locally Observed (HALO) Kit easy to use, and if they will be able to use the equipment provided correctly. All data will be collected in an anonymized manner, with patients being identified only by their study subject number.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SW/0206
Date of REC Opinion
24 Aug 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion