Wearable technology is it the future?

Cave, Louise

Publication

Wearable technology is it the future?

Cave, Louise

Abstract

Background The aim of this research project is to review the current literature on wearable devices to monitor patient vital signs and understand the feasibility of introducing a similar device to a fast paced inpatient haematology ward. Neutropenic sepsis (NS) is recognised as one of the most fatal conditions that can be experienced by a patient undergoing an allogeneic stem cell transplant. NS is time critical with the ideal time to needle being under an hour. The inability to continuously monitor patients when they become septic led to nurses anecdotally reporting higher anxiety for their patients. The definition in acute care is that wearable vital sign monitoring devices may be defined as body- worn technologies that facilitate continuous, real-time vital sign monitoring without the need for nurse-to-patient contact or restrictive leads connecting the patient to wall-mounted or free-standing equipment. Results Four themes were identified from the literature: device clinically validated (33%),device not clinically validated (29%), devices ability to enable an early response to the deteriorating patient (24%) and devices ability to help reduce the length of hospital stay (5%). Conclusions From examining the literature the technology is still newly emerging and whilst increasingly more devices have been FDA approved and CE marked they haven't necessarily been clinically validated. It is evident that at this stage there is not a device that can replace all intermittent observations for all patients within the inpatient setting.There are some clear gaps in the literature around the acceptability to patients and the potential mental health effects of reducing the regular contact point with nursing staff. Within Haematology and Oncology the future use of wearable devices in the ambulatory care setting is likely to be introduced.