Smart technologies proof of concept programme
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN59622098 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN59622098 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) | 286225 |
| Protocol serial number | IRAS 286225, CPMS 47024 |
| Sponsor | Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board |
| Funder | NHS England |
- Submission date
- 01/08/2023
- Registration date
- 02/08/2023
- Last edited
- 05/09/2023
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Recognising quickly if a person’s health is deteriorating gives doctors and other healthcare professionals a chance to intervene early and stop problems from getting worse. That can make treatment more effective and means patients can recover better. Often it even avoids admissions or urgent visits to hospital. This study is testing if we can find out really early when someone is becoming ill and may need medical help. It is testing if taking regular health measurements can give us this information.
Who can participate?
People aged over 18 years and living in the Lincolnshire area who have two or more long-term health problems. They might be living in a care home or they might be living in their own homes.
What does the study involve?
Regular health measurements will be taken using new medical technologies that are installed on a smartphone, tablet or smart wristband. They are very simple to use and can read vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rhythm and oxygen saturation by using the camera on a smartphone or tablet. The wristband can be worn constantly like a normal wristwatch and records sleep patterns. This means they are far less intrusive than the traditional medical devices used to take these readings and you don’t need to go to a doctor’s surgery or hospital to have them taken.
In addition to the data collected directly, the researchers also plan to collect health, social care and environmental data from the area participants live in, such as weather and air quality. This is so that they can produce a very detailed report on all the things that affect people’s health and wellbeing.
Once they have measurements from a large number of people, scientists will use artificial intelligence to see if they can use the information to spot when treatment from a doctor would have been beneficial. They will use all the information to write reports on how the NHS can improve patient care by using these types of technologies and Smart Devices.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
As the researchers will only analyse all the information once the study is completed, participants will not benefit from taking part in this study. Nevertheless, it is hoped that people in the future with similar health problems will receive better treatment earlier, helping them live longer happier lives. There were no significant risks identified other than the time it would take people to participate in this study.
Where is the study run from?
Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2019 to March 2023
Who is funding the study?
NHS England (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Jimmy Pryke-Walker, j.pryke-walker@nhs.net
Contact information
Principal investigator
C/O UCL Business
90 Tottenham Court Road
London
W1T 4TJ
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0003-0956-4024 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)7850 905538 |
| davidpatterson@heliconhealth.co.uk |
Public
Helicon Health Limited
C/O UCL Business
90 Tottenham Court Road
London
W1T4TJ
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)7850 905538 |
|---|---|
| tonybowden@heliconhealth.co.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Observational |
|---|---|
| Study design | Distributed observational study |
| Secondary study design | Cohort study |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Smart technologies proof of concept programme: South Lincolnshire / Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board |
| Study objectives | If information about patient behaviour, conditions and events captured from wearables, monitors and other smart technologies, can predict illness and demand for services, then providing these technologies to patients will enable providers to pre-empt illness and redirect demand, or design new services |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 03/12/2020, West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee (2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ, United Kingdom; +44 (0)207 104 8345; southbirmingham.rec@hra.nhs.uk), ref: 286225 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Adults with two or more long-term conditions |
| Intervention | This was an observational study. Participants were provided with a smartphone pre-loaded with apps, a wearable device and an email address to receive questionnaires. Participants regularly recorded their health measurements at home using the devices/apps provided. Most participants wore a wristband that collected data on sleep and activity. Participants received an electronic questionnaire every week and answered questions relating to their health and well-being. All medical devices were safe, fit for purpose, easy to use and the wearable was designed to be comfortable to wear with specific options for those with very slim or swollen wrists. The apps and wearables were approved for use in the PoC by the Health Research Authority and the local Research Ethics Committee. |
| Intervention type | Device |
| Phase | Not Applicable |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Lifelight, Fibricheck, Activinsights, Thermometer, HowRYou / HowRWe |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
1. Apps based on photoplethysmography (PPG) were used daily (five times) a week to provide indicative estimates of: |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Person-related experience measures (PREMS) were measured by weekly electronic surveys: |
| Completion date | 01/03/2023 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Upper age limit | 100 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 500 |
| Total final enrolment | 443 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Individuals over the age of 18 years 2. Have two or more long-term conditions AND/OR 3. Have a medium to high frailty score AND/OR 4. Are suffering from unsteadiness or falls AND/OR 5. Those who are found to have paroxysmal and/or asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF), hypertension or heart failure 6. Live in their own homes or in residential care homes or in nursing care homes |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Children 2. Individuals for whom consent cannot be obtained (i.e. individuals with severe mental impairments or learning difficulties) 3. Patients on palliative care 4. Individuals lacking mental health capacity or whose mental health conditions might be influenced by participating in the study 5. Individuals whose mental capacity deteriorates during the study period will be removed from the study |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/04/2022 |
| Date of final enrolment | 13/01/2023 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
The Point
Lion's Way
Sleaford
NG34 8GG
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not expected to be made available |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated and/or analyzed are not expected to be made available due to information governance regulations. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Protocol file | version 2 | 02/08/2023 | No | No | |
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Additional files
- 44038_PROTOCOL_V2.pdf
- Protocol file
Editorial Notes
05/09/2023: Internal review.
03/08/2023: Contact details updated.
02/08/2023: Study's existence confirmed by the HRA.
