Pilot project to test feasibility of wearable technology in preventing the spread of infection facilitated by HRC
A pilot project at Wythenshawe Hospital has successfully simulated how infection outbreaks spread in hospital settings, and how wearable technology can be used to prevent it.
Patients and staff at the Northwest Ventilation Unit at Wythenshawe hospital took part in a four-month trial using wearable devices (similar to a smart watch) from Proxximos, a UK-based health technology company. The wearable device tracked their movement while on the ward, helping to identify movement patterns that are key to preventing the spread of infection.
The pilot was facilitated by the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre (HRC) in Emergency and Acute Care, based at MFT, who worked with Proxximos to support the development and evaluation of this technology.
The project assessed the feasibility of using high-fidelity tracking in a complex clinical environment; the acceptability of the system for staff and patients; and indicated that the data produced has the potential to assist Infection Prevention and Control teams to prevent the spread of infection.
Professor Tim Felton, Director of the HRC and the Principal Investigator for the study, said:
“Technological advancements provide countless opportunities to improve healthcare and the way we treat our patients.
This pilot is a fantastic example of how something as simple as a wearable band can collect data to provide vital information to tackle the spread of infection.”
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“We are very pleased to have worked with Proxximos on this exciting piece of work and to see how technology can make a real difference to our patients.”
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Healthcare-acquired infections pose a significant challenge to the NHS. They account for over 28,000 deaths every year as well as increasing bed occupancy (7.1million bed days per year) and staff absences – all of which increase pressure on hospital services.
Identifying how and when infections spread in a clinical setting, most commonly through direct contact between patients, visitors and members of staff, is key to reducing the impact of infection outbreaks.
During the four-month trial the wearable devices collected movement data from 100 staff and patients. This data was used to simulate infection outbreaks and assess how digital contact tracing could be used to control pathogen spread.
Emma Taylor, Ward Manager for the Northwest Ventilation Unit at the time of the pilot, said:
“Our ward was an ITU during the COVID-19 pandemic so our team were very happy to be involved and interested about the applications of this research on limiting the impact of infection.”
“While some of the team were wary about wearing a device to track their movement, most forgot they were even wearing them which shows these innovations aren’t invasive.”
“We are excited to see the impact of this pilot and its applications in reducing the spread of infection in a clinical setting.”
Peter Whawell, CEO of Proxximos Limited, said:
“We were delighted with the results of this project. The results have provided us with confidence that our technology can successfully be used in a clinical setting and have enabled us to progress to further trials at other hospital trusts.”
“The HRC did a brilliant job of navigating the complex Health Research processes to enable the pilot of this exciting technology. Gathering the evidence from the trial was a vital step for Proxximos. We are very grateful to the team.”
How the HRC made this possible
To support the development and evaluation of this technology, the HRC played a pivotal role in demonstrating feasibility of the technology by providing:
- Grant writing support and strategic input to secure funding
- Expert clinical and research advice
- Engagement with frontline clinicians and IPC teams
- Protocol design and development
- Ethics application support
- Coordination with research delivery teams across the Trust
During the pilot, the HRC led the evaluation of how staff were adapting to the technology to determine its usability and acceptability in clinical settings.
Using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods, the team gathered feedback from staff and patients, including those who participated in the study, those who opted out, and members of the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team.
The HRC hosted a series of staff workshops which provided valuable insights into the practical implications of using the technology in a busy clinical environment.
This collaboration led to a successful Innovate UK funding award, enabling the design and delivery of a feasibility study to test the Proxximos technology in a real-world NHS setting, demonstrating the feasibility of deploying digital IPC tools in the NHS while laying the groundwork for future innovation.
Proxximos is now planning a series of pilot projects across multiple NHS Trusts to further test and refine their technology, with the continued support of the HRC.