Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Mar 5, 2021
Date Accepted: Nov 22, 2021
Surgical staff perceptions on the use of wearable sensors and continuous monitoring in surgical patients using semi-structured interviews
ABSTRACT
Background:
Continuous vital sign monitoring using wearable sensors may enable earlier detection of patient deterioration and sepsis. Few studies have explored the perspectives of surgical team members on the use of such sensors in surgical patients.
Objective:
This study aims to understand the views of surgical team members regarding novel wearable sensors in surgical patients.
Methods:
Wearable sensors that monitor vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature) continuously were used in acute surgical patients. The opinions of surgical staff treating patients with these were collated through in-depth semi-structured interviews to thematic saturation. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.
Results:
A total of 48 interviews were performed with senior/ junior surgeons and senior/junior nurses. The main themes of interest emerging from the interviews were; 1) problems with current monitoring 2) anticipated impact of wearables on patient safety, 3) impact on staff 4) impact on patients overall 5) potential new changes and 6) the future and views on technology.
Conclusions:
Overall, the feedback from staff using wearable monitoring was positive with relatively few concerns raised. Surgical staff members identify problems with current monitoring and anticipate that sensors will both improve patient safety and be the future of monitoring. Clinical Trial: IRAS ID – 222979, REC reference – 17/YH/0296
Citation
Per the author's request the PDF is not available.
Copyright
© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.