A mobile phone app for monitoring Raynaud’s phenomenon attacks
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A mobile phone application for monitoring Raynaud’s phenomenon attacks
IRAS ID
218429
Contact name
Graham Dinsdale
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 31 days
Research summary
Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) is a significant health issue, and is common (up to 21% of women and 16% of men are affected). RP causes finger colour changes (white/blue/red) and pain on exposure to cold. RP can be primary (unknown cause) or secondary to an underlying disease such as scleroderma, and can have a significant impact on quality of life. RP secondary to an underlying connective tissue disease such as systemic sclerosis (SSc, also known as scleroderma) is less common, but can be extremely severe leading to ulcers and gangrene. Current treatments are far from ideal. One reason for the lack of treatments is that it is difficult to measure RP attacks (and their severity), and it is therefore it is difficult to prove whether new proposed treatments are effective.\n\nAn objective method of assessing RP attacks are photographs, such as those occasionally shown to clinicians during out-patient appointments. These photographs are taken by the patient, often using the camera present in their mobile phone handset.\n\nThis study asks patients to use a smartphone app which guides patients through the process of photographing their RP attacks using a mobile phone camera for a two-week period, while simultaneously completing a “traditional” paper diary incorporating the Raynaud’s Condition Score (a 0-10 scale of Raynaud’s “severity”). Images and other data recorded during the study will be assessed and analysed to quantify colour changes and the extent of affected areas, and to see if these results can be linked to diary and patient demographic data. The study will assess feasibility (can patients use the app to effectively monitor their RP attacks?) and will also canvas patient opinion on future research directions in this area.\n
REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0671
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion