AutoDVT to diagnose deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
AI-guided point-of-care ultrasound to diagnose deep vein thrombosis in primary care
IRAS ID
332800
Contact name
Kerstin Nothnagel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol, Research Governance Officer Research and Enterprise
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
DVT is a serious condition where blood clots form in deep leg veins, potentially causing life-threatening pulmonary embolisms (PE). Typically, specialised hospital professionals perform ultrasound scans for diagnosis.
Considering the rising DVT risk with age, efficient diagnosis is essential. Current pathways vary and cause delays. Meta-analyses suggest that a 2-region compression ultrasound exam is effective. The smartphone app called 'AutoDVT' aims to guide non-specialists through such scans and collect ultrasound data of sufficient quality for remote diagnosis.
This study evaluates the accuracy of app-guided DVT diagnosis by health care assistants (HCAs) in primary care. It involves recruiting 500 patients with symptoms suggestive of DVT from a primary care clinic. Participants will receive an app-guided scan and a standard ultrasound scan, followed by patient satisfaction surveys. Semi-structured interviews will assess HCA confidence and patient perceptions of app-guided ultrasound.
In summary, this study aims to compare app-assisted DVT diagnosis to standard ultrasound practices in primary care, while also exploring patient perceptions.
If successful, this smartphone app could enable DVT diagnosis by non-specialists, increasing convenience and reducing hospital visits, ultimately easing the NHS's workload.
REC name
London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/PR/1242
Date of REC Opinion
5 Dec 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion