WATCH Transfused
Research type
Research Study
Full title
WearAble Technology for Collecting Health data in people who are Transfused (WATCH Transfused) - A UK exploratory study to improve quality of life and the efficacy of transfusion supportive care in people with blood cancers undergoing treatment
IRAS ID
318252
Contact name
Matthew Poynton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Research Governance, Ethics and Assurance
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
Cancer treatments often affect healthy cells as well as the cancer cells and this can lead to side-effects such as low blood counts – anaemia. This can cause severe fatigue, shortness of breath and brain fog and may need regular blood transfusions. Their quality of life (QoL) is often very poor during treatment because of these side effects, and it is hard to deal with.
The aim of this study is to better understand how people feel during their treatment and how we can best use blood transfusions to maintain QoL.
80 patients who are starting treatments will be asked to answer questionnaires about how they are feeling whilst wearing a smartwatch to measure activity levels. Activity data will be compared with their QoL and blood counts to help us understand when patients how blood transfusions affect them.
A better understanding of the impact of low blood counts on QoL can help us use blood transfusions to benefit patients’ lives.Patients, their family and carers will be invited to take part in an interview to understand their views on how we can improve their care, QoL and access to transfusions.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/1487
Date of REC Opinion
14 Nov 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion