RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Post Intensive Care Accelerometery to Study and Support Recovery Outcomes

This study is called 'Post Intensive Care Accelerometery to Study and Support Recovery Outcomes'. It wants to find out if a wrist-worn activity tracker can help doctors understand how people get better after leaving intensive care (ICU). Many people face challenges after critical illness, and this device might help spot problems early so the right support can be given. Doctors want to see if activity levels from the tracker match how people feel and cope with daily life. Participants will wear a wristband and answer some health questions. This study aims to improve care for people recovering from serious illness in Edinburgh hospitals.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University of Edinburgh

Enrolment target

Start

30 Mar 2026

Estimated completion

28 Aug 2026

Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS)

What is this study about?

When someone is very unwell and needs to stay in intensive care (ICU), it's a very serious time. Even after they get better and leave the ICU, and then the hospital, many people continue to face challenges. These can be physical, like feeling weak or tired, emotional, like feeling anxious, or social, like finding it hard to get back to everyday life. This study, called 'PICASSRO', is trying to understand this recovery journey better and find ways to help people get the right support at the right time.

The main idea is to see if a small, wrist-worn device, like a fitness tracker, can give useful information about how someone is recovering at home. We know that how much or how little someone moves can tell us a lot about their well-being. So, the study will ask people to wear this device, and also complete some simple questionnaires about how they are feeling, sleeping, and managing daily tasks. By putting this information together, doctors hope to get a clearer picture of recovery outside of the hospital setting.

Ultimately, the goal is to use this information to identify problems early. If doctors can spot when someone is struggling, either physically or emotionally, they can step in with support more quickly. This could lead to better and more personalised care for everyone recovering from a serious illness in intensive care.

Key takeaways

Aims to understand recovery after intensive care using a wrist tracker.
Helps identify recovery challenges early to provide better support.
Involves wearing a small device and answering health questions by phone.
For adults who were very unwell in intensive care in Edinburgh hospitals.
You can stop participating at any time.

Who may be eligible?

To take part in this study, you need to be an adult, aged 18 or over. You would have spent more than 3 days on a breathing machine (ventilator) in intensive care and stayed in intensive care for more than 7 days in total. Also, a special checklist used by health professionals would have shown that you are considered ‘high risk’ for needing extra support with your recovery. You would also be expected to be leaving the hospital quite soon after the study is discussed with you.

However, you wouldn't be able to join the study if your main reason for being in intensive care was a brain or nerve problem. Also, if you’re receiving end-of-life (palliative) care, or if your ability to move is mostly limited by a new injury (like a severe accident or losing a limb), you wouldn't be able to participate. If you couldn't move around on your own before you went into hospital because of a lasting health condition or disability, you also wouldn't be eligible. Finally, you need to be able to understand the study and agree to take part yourself.

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?
Were you on a breathing machine for over 3 days in intensive care?
Did you stay in intensive care for more than 7 days in total?
Have health staff considered you 'high risk' for needing extra recovery support?
Are you able to understand and agree to take part yourself?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you will be asked to wear a wrist-worn activity monitor on your dominant wrist (the one you use most, like for writing) for about two months after you leave hospital. This device will continuously track your movement. You will also be asked to answer a short set of health-related questionnaires. These will be done during a structured phone call assessment, which is in addition to the usual check-ups you would receive from the Critical Care Recovery Service. These phone calls will happen over the two months you are wearing the wristband. The study does not involve any new medicines or extra hospital visits.

Potential risks and benefits

By taking part, you could be helping researchers understand recovery after intensive care, which may benefit future patients. The wrist-worn device is safe and involves no known physical risks beyond possible skin irritation. There are no direct personal benefits to you from participating, but your information will help improve care. You are free to stop taking part in the study at any time, without giving a reason, and this will not affect your future medical care.

Locations (3)

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

The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
Verified postcode
Edinburgh, United Kingdom· Recruiting
Western General Hospital
Verified postcode
Edinburgh, United Kingdom· Recruiting
St Johns Hospital
Verified postcode
Livingston, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is the wrist-worn device?

It's a small activity tracker, similar to a fitness watch, that measures your movement.

How long do I need to wear the device?

You'll wear it continuously for about two months after you leave the hospital.

Will I have to go to extra appointments?

No, you'll have some structured phone calls to answer questions, but not extra hospital visits for the study.

What happens to my information?

Your movement data and answers to questionnaires will be collected to help understand recovery patterns. Your privacy will be protected.

Can I stop participating if I change my mind?

Yes, you can leave the study at any time, for any reason, without affecting your medical care.

How to find out more

Zoeb Jiwaji, Dr

zoeb.jiwaji@ed.ac.uk 0044 (0)131 242 1186 Official trial record

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