MonitorMe in COPD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Use of MonitorMe in COPD: a mixed-methods feasibility study
IRAS ID
236261
Contact name
Niroshan A Siriwardena
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Lincoln
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
MonitorMe is a telephone device intended for the non-critical monitoring of vital signs in a domestic environment with the ability to automatically transmit data to a remote location via basic telephone connectivity.
MonitorMe’s low-cost, call automation and simple to use technology (i.e. based on the principles of an ordinary plug-in telephone) make it appropriate for a wide number of care pathways. It eliminates the need for a modem or broadband and avoids the challenges of less reliable smart phone technology. Typical use scenarios include remote monitoring of individual or multiple chronic disease states such as COPD to improve patient outcomes including prevention of emergency admissions.
There is growing interest in the use of home telemonitoring in COPD in order to facilitate the management of the increasing numbers of patients and pressures on the NHS. Despite the positive effects of telemonitoring in conditions such as heart failure, benefits remain unproven in COPD and further work is required before wide-scale use.
Furthermore, until now the evaluation of telecare and telehealth developments has focused mainly on effectiveness and efficiency, whereas their social, and ethical implications in particular, have not been explored in depth. We will also explore ethical issues related to the use of telehealth systems, from both the patients’ and the healthcare professionals’ perspective.
The current feasibility study is designed to assess the acceptability, usability and validity of MonitorMe within one of its intended purposes i.e. remote monitoring of individual or multiple chronic disease states such as COPD.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EE/0156
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion