SWARM: South West Anaesthesia Research Matrix Accelerometers for Anaesthesia Research (AFAR); Wearable Movement Sensors to Measure Recovery from Day Case Surgery

Abstract

A feasibility study from SouthWest Anaesthesia Research Matrix in collaboration with Open Lab at Newcastle University Aim: Wearable movement sensors (accelerometers) are a novel technology that may have utility to measure patientcentred endpoints such as activity levels. We propose to investigate their feasibility to track recovery after day case surgery. We aim to gain experience with this technology and test a methodology that could be deployed at scale across a trainee research network. Patients: The SWARM trainee network will recruit 50 consecutive functionally able adult patients from two NHS trusts, booked for urology, gynaecology or general day case surgery that requires general or neuraxial anaesthesia but does not in itself restrict mobility. Comparator: We will compare a postoperative recovery profile of each patient to his or her own baseline preoperative activity profile. We will also investigate validity of this measure by comparing patients recovery profile against their sequential daily scores on a validated quality of recovery questionnaire (Q0R15), administered by phone call. Outcomes: Participants will be asked to wear wrist devices for a week before and after surgery so that 7day baseline activity and postoperative recovery profiles can be characterized. Computer scientist collaborators from Open Lab at Newcastle University use raw movement data from the Axivity AX3 device to generate multiaxial parameters, quantifying movement in more than one dimension. Our candidate measures are: step count intensity of activity aggregate sleep duration & quality energy expenditure character of activity. We will compare the correlation between these and daily QoR15 score. Acceptability will be explored with a PPI group. Feasibility for future study will be checked by recording data about recruitment rate, wear time (compliance), device return rate, proportion of lost/unusable data. Study design: Prospective, observational study.