Howz for health feasibility study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Implementation of the Howz health monitoring system in older people's homes following hospital admission: A feasibility study
IRAS ID
282472
Contact name
Beverley Greenhalgh
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN54567636
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, days
Research summary
The purpose of this study is to find out whether monitoring older people's daily routine using an easy-to-install sensor kit can help them to feel better about living in the community after being discharged from hospital or having an acute episode of illness or injury, and how this can be used to improve the care provided by an NHS clinical service. There is also interest in investigating whether this technology could support people during social isolation due to COVID-19. Information from the sensors will be used to identify people's daily routine, for the person themselves to view and also to share with family or friends as well as NHS clinicians. It is predicted that this data could be used to detect changes in a person's routine that could be a sign of ill health, allowing early action to be taken to stop things getting any worse.
The research team will provide participants with an easy to install sensor kit which will collect information about movement within the home, door opening and closing, and electricity use. The study will last for three months during which a member of the research team will be in contact with each participant on a weekly basis to review findings and discuss any changes in health and wellbeing. Health questionnaires and assessments will be completed at the start of the study, after six weeks and at the end of the study so that the results can be compared with the information that the sensors collect.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SW/0032
Date of REC Opinion
26 Mar 2021
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion