NIHR BRC Studies
Several studies run through the University of Oxford Critical Care Research Group offices are funded by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre.
These studies are part of the Technology and Digital Health research theme running through the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).
Working in collaboration with the Department of Engineering and Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care Sciences the Critical Care Research Group are continuing to evaluate wearable monitoring devices for use in hospital and at home.
Studies from the BRC include:
SHINE: SHINE (Screening for Hypertension in the INpatient Environment) uses bespoke computer algorithms to screen patients admitted to hospital for high blood pressure (hypertension). Patients will be followed-up to find out whether hospital blood pressure measurements accurately predict blood pressure measurements at home. The aim of this research is to create a diagnostic pathway for the new diagnosis of high blood pressure among people admitted to hospital.
SEND: The System for Electronic Notes Documentation (SEND) has been rolled out throughout all the adult wards in the four hospitals of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, with more than 16m observations acquired by January 2017. The system was carefully designed to avoid delays in data entry and processing. A pilot study (iSEND) at the John Radcliffe Hospital suggests that the system reduces the average time to undertake a set of observations by approximately 60 seconds.
iSEND: a service evaluation designed to review the effects of implementing a new electronic vital signs system across the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
SEEK: a service evaluation to explore the process of escalation for deteriorating patients
Pregnancy Physiology Pattern Prediction (4-P): The 4P study collected vital signs data from >1000 pregnant women from <14 weeks' gestation to 2 weeks after delivery. Funded by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, the 4P study recruited patients from Oxford, London, and Newcastle.
OTEST: a randomised stepped wedge trial comparing the effects of length of stay from admission to 'fit to discharge' and the effect on escalations in care for deteriorating patients between an electronic vital signs system and standard paper-based track and trigger system.
Computer ALerting and Monitoring Systems (CALMS): The CALMS series of studies focussed on the development and assessment of using wearable monitoring devices after surgery.