TrachVest
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Ventilator Tube Holder for Patients with a Tracheostomy: A Pilot Usability study
IRAS ID
291279
Contact name
Paul Twose
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Some patients who are dependent on a ventilator for breathing may still be able to get out of bed and move about, usually with assistance from staff. They will be connected to the ventilator tubes by a tracheostomy (a hole in the windpipe, at the front of the neck). To help move patients about, several staff may be needed (nurses, therapists, and assistants), including someone to look after the ventilator tubing. Movement of the tubing can cause discomfort, set off the ventilator alarms, or dislodge the tracheostomy. Previously a custom-made vest was designed for a patient which held this tubing securely and provided greater security and mobility. This study will evaluate whether the garment could be beneficial for similar patients on the critical care unit (CCU) at University Hospital Wales (UHW).
This is a small study to obtain staff and patient feedback on the use of the garment. It will be used on 12 patients in the CCU who are regularly mobilised. Each patient will have their own garment, which will be used for 2-3 days during their normal care. Researchers will observe how the garment is used, whether and how it is helping, any problems encountered, and suggestions for improvements. As well as the observations, staff and patients will be asked for their opinions. As the garments can be produced quickly, improvements to the design can be made during the study.
We will assess the potential benefits and harms of using the garment and work out how we can test the garment in a full clinical trial.REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
21/WA/0302
Date of REC Opinion
4 Oct 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion