Improved Patient Safety through Intensive Biosignal Monitoring
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improved Patient Safety through Intensive Biosignal Monitoring (IPSIBIM)
IRAS ID
184778
Contact name
Nichola Seare
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aston
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 31 days
Research summary
Lay title: Improved patient safety through continuous vital signs monitoring
Background: Hip and knee replacement are major surgical operations that carry a risk of postoperative complications such as bleeding and cardiac events. Patient safety after surgery can be significantly improved by using continuous wireless recording of vital signs to detect early signs of deterioration. However, a large volume of observations requires systems that can interpret and summarise vital signs so that staff can act upon deterioration. Such systems already exist but, to our knowledge, none have been developed specifically for major orthopaedic surgery.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to develop an algorithm, which is a set of rules encoded in a computer programme, for detecting patterns of deterioration in continuously (every 2 minutes) monitored vital signs that are specific to patients who have undergone major orthopaedic surgery.
Methods: In total 35 patients undergoing revision of knee or hip replacement will be recruited over a period of seven months. The study participants will be set up with a wearable wireless SensiumVitals® digital patch, which is a disposable device that sticks to a patient's chest, after the surgery either in the operating theatre or in the recovery room. Vital sign data will be collected on heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature. Information will also be collected on the patients’ care, wellbeing and levels of pain in order to understand changes in vital signs. Questionnaires and interviews will be used to ask about patient and staff views on the use of digital technology in hospitals, using vital sign monitoring as an example.
Outcomes: Our key outcome is to develop a computer algorithm for a wireless automated system that alerts clinicians of early signs of deterioration in orthopaedic wards. The outcome will contribute to a separate, later study which will investigate the effectiveness of the developed algorithm, and to industrial development of more sophisticated and accurate wireless sensor systems.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
15/WS/0260
Date of REC Opinion
4 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion