Date
2017 - 2020

Following a Small Business Research Initiative project that developed a proof-of-principle prototype, this project focuses on merging user-led, evidence based design methods developed by Lab4Living to generate pre-production prototypes of BuddyWOTCH. The project supports the Department of Health’s ‘3millionlives’ concordat to improve the lives of 3 million LTC patients with self-monitoring tech.

17.5 million people in the UK have long-term conditions (LTC’s) such as cystic fibrosis (CF), diabetes, hypertension, heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with LTC’s take 50% of GP appointments, 64% of outpatient appointments & 70% of in-patient bed-days, and use 70% of the total health & social care spend in England. Remote monitoring of vital signs is increasingly used to manage of patients with LTC’s. Mobile health (mHealth) uses peripheral biometric devices that communicate to an app/interface on a smartphone / tablet with a data connection to securely relay data to a clinical team in case an intervention needs to be made. Problems can arise with this approach, i.e. when mobile operating systems (e.g. iOS or Android) are updated, they can render instability/inoperability of the mHealth platform. For seriously ill patients, this service interruption can pose significant hazard to health.

Partner - Aseptika Ltd.

Researchers involved

Professor Paul Chamberlain - Co-Director C3RI, Head of Art & Design Research Centre, Director of Lab4Living and Director of Design Futures
Mark Phillips - Design Director at Design Futures
Dr Claire Craig - Co-Director, Lab4Living, Senior Lecturer Occupational Therapy