e-PICS Study: Using e-Health for Early Detection of Post-ICU Syndrome

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  e-PICs Study: Exploring the role of e-health in monitoring Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) symptoms. Potential applications for early rehabilitation in post-hospital discharge critical care patients

• IRAS ID

  325864

• Contact name

  Sukwinder Shergill

• Contact email

  sukhwinder.shergill@kmms.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 1 months, 9 days

• Research summary

  Aims of the research
  The project will assess the feasibility of using remote monitoring with wearables and on-line at home assessment (e-health) to identify symptoms of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). This study aims to:
  1. Evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the remote e-health monitoring protocol in critical illness survivors at risk of PICS
  2. Explore recovery trajectories of critical survivors during the early post-discharge period
  3. Explore the person’s needs and communication with carers and professionals during the early post-discharge period
  4. Explore relationships between sleep and PICS symptoms

  Background to the research
  Despite improvements in treatment and improved patient survival rates, 50-80% of critical care survivors are readmitted to the hospital in the first 2 years. Half of those surviving critical illness suffer new or worsened impairments in physical, cognitive, or psychological function. These impairments collectively termed post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) impact negatively on quality of life, functional independence, and return to work. The project focuses on the early post-discharge recovery period and seeks early identification of the main domains of PICS using remote monitoring with wearables and on-line at home assessment before the NICE recommended 3-month review post-ICU discharge.

  Design and methods
  We propose a longitudinal study using remote monitoring with wearables and on-line at home assessment in patients discharged from two units in Kent (Maidstone, and Tunbridge Wells Critical care units). Trained ICU research nurses across the two critical care units will identify eligible participants before discharge from the hospital, provide information about the study, and collect consent. Consented patients will be contacted by a member of the research team. To accommodate the vulnerability of the recovery and to reduce burden on participants, data is collected in alternating blocks of 2 weeks followed by a 2-week break until the study endpoint.

• REC name

  South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  23/SC/0412

• Date of REC Opinion

  22 Dec 2023

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion