Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Smart Watch Insights for Prevention of Exacerbations and Enhance Rehabilitation - Movement Study

This study focuses on using smartwatches to learn more about long-term health conditions such as heart disease, fatty liver disease, respiratory problems, and diabetes. Researchers want to create a helpful wellbeing programme focusing on movement for people using the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. They're also looking at the information collected by smartwatches, like steps and heart rate, to see if it can help predict health changes. The goal is to find out what encourages people to stay active in these programmes and how this digital information could lead to earlier diagnosis for others in the future. Participants wear a smartwatch and use a phone app to share their movement and health data.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

Imperial College London

Enrolment target

1,000

Start

30 Aug 2023

Estimated completion

30 Aug 2026

Cardiovascular Diseases Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Respiratory Disease Diabetes

What is this study about?

Imagine using a smartwatch not just to tell the time, but to help doctors understand and even predict health changes. That's exactly what this study, called 'Smart Watch Insights for Prevention of Exacerbations and Enhance Rehabilitation - Movement Study,' aims to do. It focuses on several common long-term health conditions, including heart problems, a liver condition called Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, breathing issues, and diabetes. The main idea is to see how the daily information a smartwatch collects – like how much you move, your heart rate, and even your breathing – can tell us more about these conditions.

The researchers have a few key goals. Firstly, they want to create a useful and widely available wellbeing programme for people in the local area served by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, with a special focus on encouraging movement. Secondly, by looking at the digital information from smartwatches over time, they hope to get a better picture of how these long-term conditions naturally develop. Thirdly, they want to find specific pieces of information from the smartwatch that could help predict when someone might have a flare-up or a change in their health. Finally, they're curious to understand what helps people stick with and benefit from a movement programme.

Ultimately, by connecting the data from smartwatches with participants' health records, the study hopes to discover patterns that could lead to earlier detection and better understanding of these conditions for future patients. This could mean that doctors might one day use smartwatch data to spot potential health issues sooner or to tailor advice more effectively.

Key takeaways

Uses smartwatches to understand long-term health conditions.
Aims to create a movement-focused wellbeing programme.
Hopes to predict health changes using smartwatch data.
You get a smartwatch and use a smartphone app for monitoring.
Eligibility requires being over 18 and registered with NHS Care Information Exchange.
Your data will be used to improve future diagnosis and care.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be an adult, aged 18 or over. You also must be registered with the Imperial NHS Care Information Exchange (CIE), which is a secure online record where you can view your own health information.

However, there are some reasons why you wouldn't be able to take part. If you're unable or unwilling to give your consent to join, you wouldn't be included. Also, if you have an injury or a condition in your arm or wrist that would make wearing a smartwatch difficult or unsafe, you wouldn't be able to participate. Lastly, if you have sight problems that prevent you from using a smartwatch or the app on your smartphone, you also wouldn't be eligible.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Are you registered with the Imperial NHS Care Information Exchange (CIE)?
Do you have any arm or wrist injury that would stop you from safely wearing a smartwatch?
Do you have any significant visual impairment that would prevent you from using a smartwatch or smartphone application?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to join this study, you will be given a smartwatch. You'll be asked to wear this watch as much as you can, throughout your day. You will also need to download a special smartphone app called 'Connected Life'. This app will show you, as well as the research team, information about your movement, heart rate, breathing, and oxygen levels collected by your smartwatch. The research team will give you secure login details for this app to make sure your information is private.

The researchers will also look at your existing health records to connect them with the information gathered by your smartwatch. There are no special hospital visits or extra assessments required beyond what you already do for your regular care. You won't be given any new medications as part of this study. The study aims to look at your data over time, but the specific total duration for your participation isn't mentioned in this summary, so it's a good question to ask the research team.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might offer you some benefits, such as getting a free smartwatch for self-monitoring your movement and wellbeing. You'll also be contributing to important research that could help improve care and lead to earlier diagnoses for people with long-term conditions in the future. As for risks, these are expected to be very low, mainly involving the minor inconvenience of wearing a smartwatch and using a phone app. Your information will be handled with care to protect your privacy. Remember, you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom

Common questions

What kind of health conditions is this study interested in?

The study is looking at heart disease, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, breathing problems, and diabetes.

Do I need to buy a smartwatch?

No, if you join the study, you will be given a smartwatch to use for self-monitoring.

What information will the study collect from me?

It will collect movement data (like steps), heart rate, breathing information, and oxygen levels from the smartwatch and compare it with your health records.

Will my personal health information be kept private?

Yes, the research team will provide secure login details for the app to ensure your data is private.

Can I leave the study if I change my mind?

Yes, you are free to withdraw from the study at any time without it affecting your medical care.