I-spy care messenger wellbeing evaluation study.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Care Messenger: Small-Scale Evaluation Study
IRAS ID
211413
Contact name
Christopher D Yuill
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Robert Gordon University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 26 days
Research summary
Robert Gordon University have been asked by I-Spy to evaluate their Care Messenger (CE Certified and FC Certified) telecare system. Primarily, I-Spy wish to know if the system does or does not improve the wellbeing of longer-lived people who are experiencing loneliness. A growing research base has established that loneliness can have negative consequences for health and wellbeing. It is also hoped that the research will provide secondary indicative information on the potential for Care Messenger to deliver health and wellbeing information.
The technology has been evaluated previously in England by Loughborough University (2015). Their report indicated that users felt that Care messenger was useful and contributed positively to their overall wellbeing. Interest in the technology has been expressed by NHS 24 Scotland as a means of communicating with older people and delivering care and other services at home. They foresee the potential of the technology to be used by 300,000 users across Scotland.
A panel study approach will be adopted for the evaluation. Data will be gathered in two phases. The first phase of data collection will establish baseline information that will establish participants’ wellbeing, the extent of their loneliness and the quantity and quality of their social contacts, as well as basic demographic information. That phase will occur as the technology is being installed in users’ homes. The second phase of data gathering will occur three months later. The same research tools will be used again to identify what differences, if any, the technology has for the participants in terms of their wellbeing, loneliness and social connectivity.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 01
REC reference
16/SS/0161
Date of REC Opinion
10 Oct 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion