Smart Socks for Dementia Care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Acceptability and feasibility of sensor-instrumented SmartSocks™ for use by people with dementia
IRAS ID
331690
Contact name
Byron Creese
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Brunel University London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 29 days
Research summary
We are going to test whether a new form of wearable technology, SmartSocks™, can help us do more reliable research involving people with dementia in care homes. Many people with dementia living in care homes have problems telling people if they are in distress, this can make research data unreliable because we have to ask care staff. We think using technology might be able to help us recognise distress.
The Socks: SmartSocks™ have been designed and manufactured by a company called Milbotix. They are like regular socks, but they have sensors inside them. These sensors can measure different things like how sweaty your feet are, your heart rate, and even how much you move. All of these things can tell us if someone is stressed or agitated.
The Study: We want to know if these SmartSocks™ can help us do research involving people with dementia who might have trouble communicating their needs. To figure this out, we are giving the SmartSocks™ to 30 people with dementia living in care homes for four weeks.
Procedure: During the 4 weeks, we will ask the people to wear the SmartSocks™ all the time, just like regular socks. Care staff will provide all other care in the normal way.
Collecting Data: The SmartSocks™ send information to a mobile app that care staff use. The app shows when a person might be feeling upset, agitation or in pain. We will ask how they feel about using these socks and if it helps them look after the residents better.
The Goal: By doing all of this, they want to see if the SmartSocks™ are easy to use and if they really help the people living in care homes feel better. This information will help us plan bigger studies later on.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/YH/0013
Date of REC Opinion
31 Jan 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion