Feasibility of Bide in patients’ homes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Implementation of technology to prevent night-time falls in the domiciliary setting: a feasibility study
IRAS ID
327018
Contact name
Pip Logan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 0 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
Many falls for the frailest elderly occur at night. Many falls prevention or detection technologies are complicated and require an interactive approach. Bide, a small, simple-to-use and inexpensive sensor-based device could bridge this gap. It sits on the bedside, plugs into a standard electrical outlet, and does not require internet or telephone connection. It has a light and movement sensor to detect if a person gets up from their bed or turns the bedside light on. A pre-recorded message from a trusted person then plays. When the sensor is triggered, it shines a light. A ‘traffic light’ system displays red when the message is playing to indicate to the person that they should stop and listen to the message. When the message has finished, the light shines green to indicate that they can go, then turns to white as a night-light to increase visibility.
Early testing suggests significant night-time falls reduction, provides proof-of concept, acceptability, and indicates the requirement for definitive trials to understand optimal settings and populations. Therefore, this study aims to test the feasibility of recruiting participants from different community services and the acceptability of the study protocol to participants to inform the protocol for an efficacy study. Similarly, anecdotal concerns from clinicians highlight concern that it may not work in those living with cognitive deficits or hearing loss. Therefore, the study will also test the feasibility of using Bide with those living with cognitive impairment or hearing loss. Lastly, the study will gain feedback from people who have used the device and their families to add formal qualitative data to the anecdotal evidence gathered so far and inform which types of patients the device is most suited to. If proven to be feasible, a definitive trial is planned.Summary of Results
Older people living in the community are at risk of preventable nighttime falls. Technology can support falls interventions but there is a lack of research into this area. A new bedside device called Bide senses movement and changes in light levels and plays a prerecorded message encouraging the user to follow falls prevention advice when trying to mobilise at night. This study aimed to test the feasibility of using the Bide device in a community health service.Healthcare workers were trained in the use of the Bide device and asked to identify potential participants. The research team subsequently recruited participants, provided them with a device and explained how to use it. After four weeks, participants took part in face-to-face semi-structured interviews regarding the acceptability of the device. Participants' fear of falling was calculated before and after the intervention using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International.
The Bide device appeared to increase patients' confidence to mobilise at night and no adverse events were reported from its use. The device was generally found to be acceptable and easy to use, although one participant found it irritating. Healthcare workers flagged up very few potential participants to the research team, which may have been due to workload pressures and a disconnect between healthcare workers and technology.
It appears feasible to study the use of the Bide device for nighttime falls prevention in the community. To enhance recruitment, a member of the research team may be embedded in the clinical team with the aim of proactively identifying potential participants.
REC name
Wales REC 2
REC reference
23/WA/0203
Date of REC Opinion
16 Aug 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion