RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

WearAble Technology for Collecting Health Data in People Who Are the Transfused (WATCH Transfused) - A UK Exploratory Study to Improve Quality of Life and the Efficacy of Transfusion Supportive Care in People With Blood Cancers Undergoing Treatment

This UK study is researching how smartwatches can help improve care for people with blood cancers like MDS and AML. Cancer treatments can cause side effects like fatigue and breathlessness, often leading to low blood counts that may need transfusions. While blood tests show certain levels, they don't always reflect how a person feels day-to-day. This study wants to find a better way to monitor patients' well-being and symptoms. Participants will wear a smartwatch to track activity, answer questionnaires about their feelings, and share their experiences through interviews. The goal is to better understand how low blood counts affect quality of life, so doctors can give blood transfusions more effectively and personally to each patient's needs.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University of Oxford

Enrolment target

Start

17 Feb 2026

Estimated completion

01 Sep 2027

MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome)AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia)

What is this study about?

When you're having treatment for blood cancers like Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) or Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), your doctors are doing their best to help you. However, cancer treatments can sometimes affect healthy cells as well as cancer cells. This can lead to side effects such as low blood counts, which can leave you feeling very tired, short of breath, or experiencing 'brain fog'. Often, regular blood transfusions are needed to help with these symptoms.

While doctors use blood tests to guide treatment, these tests don't always capture how you're truly feeling or how these symptoms are affecting your daily life. This study aims to bridge that gap. We want to understand much better how people feel during their treatment, what their quality of life is like, and how we can best use blood transfusions to keep you feeling as well as possible. By gathering more detailed information about your day-to-day experiences, doctors hope to make more informed decisions about your care.

Eighty adult patients who are starting treatment for blood cancer will be invited to take part. Through surveys, wearing a smartwatch to measure activity, and interviews with patients, families, and carers, the study hopes to find out when patients cope best with treatment and how blood transfusions make a difference. Ultimately, this research aims to make blood transfusions more personalised and beneficial for people living with blood cancer.

Key takeaways

This study uses smartwatches to understand how blood cancer patients feel.
It aims to improve quality of life and personalise blood transfusions.
It's for adults with MDS or AML starting treatment.
Participants will answer questions and wear an activity tracker.
The goal is to match transfusions better to individual needs.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for adults aged 18 or over who have been diagnosed with certain blood cancers, including Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) or Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), and are planning to start treatment that aims to tackle their disease. You would need to be expected to live for at least six more months and be able to fill out questionnaires about how you're feeling. It's also important that you're willing to receive blood transfusions if your doctors recommend them as part of your usual care within the NHS, and you must be able to give your informed consent to take part.

However, this study might not be suitable for everyone. For instance, if you're already very unwell and struggle with daily activities, or if you have certain heart conditions or other serious health problems, you might not be able to join. They also can't include people who are currently staying in hospital, are already part of another clinical study involving a specific intervention, or have skin allergies that could interfere with wearing the smartwatch. If you have a pacemaker or other implanted heart device, you also wouldn't be able to take part.

Quick self-check

Are you 18 years old or older?
Do you have MDS or AML and are starting treatment?
Are you generally well enough to complete surveys?
Are you able to provide your consent to take part?
Do you have a pacemaker or other implanted heart device? (If yes, you cannot join.)

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you will be asked to fill out questionnaires about your well-being and symptoms at different times during your treatment. You will also be asked to wear a smartwatch that measures your physical activity levels; this device is similar to those many people use daily. The data from the smartwatch will be compared with your survey answers and your blood test results. In addition to this, you, your family, or carers might be invited to have an interview to share your experiences and views on how to improve care and access to transfusions. The total duration of your participation will depend on the length of your treatment course, but the aim is to collect data over a sustained period to understand changes over time.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study will help doctors better understand how blood cancer and its treatments affect your quality of life, which could lead to more personalised and effective use of blood transfusions in the future. There are generally low risks involved; wearing the smartwatch is non-invasive, and the questionnaires are about your experiences. There's a small chance of skin irritation from the smartwatch, or discomfort from answering personal questions. It's important to remember that you are free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and this will not affect your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
Oxford, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is the main goal of this study?

The main goal is to understand how people with blood cancer feel during treatment and how blood transfusions can be used more effectively to improve their quality of life.

What will I have to do if I join the study?

You'll be asked to answer questionnaires about your feelings, wear a smartwatch to track your activity, and possibly participate in an interview.

Will wearing the smartwatch interfere with my treatment?

No, the smartwatch simply collects data about your activity and doesn't interfere with your medical treatment. It's like many fitness trackers people wear every day.

Will this study directly improve my health straight away?

The study aims to improve future care for people with blood cancer. While it may not directly change your current treatment, your participation helps doctors learn how to better support patients like you.

Can I stop participating if I change my mind?

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

How to find out more

Matthew H Poynton, MBBS

matthew.poynton@linacre.ox.ac.uk +447742990230 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.