A pilot study utilizing RADAR-base for assessing the usability of and adherence to wearable technology in online home-based exercise sessions in Scottish heart patients.
The challenge
The Scottish University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) in Inverness aims to deliver cardiac rehabilitation using remote technologies. The study is focused on cardiac rehabilitation in remote rural areas that are often difficult to access. In the current setting, cardiac rehabilitation programs are offered as in-person sessions and delivered as physiotherapy, followed by physical exercises as in-person sessions. The aim of this pilot project is to deliver the physical exercises as online classes via existing teleconferencing methods.
The RADAR-base platform was used to evaluate the feasibility of such online classes and the feasibility of deploying remote monitoring platforms and wearables for tracking lifestyles, physical activity and exercise.
How we addressed it
For this use case, we analyzed the requirements of Dr. Daniel Crabtree and his team. The pilot study was set up as a feasibility study and kept simple. All functionalities required for the pilot were already available in the RADAR-based platform and could be reused thanks to the open-source license under which the RADAR-base stack is published.
Together with the research team, it was decided to use RADAR-base’s passive Remote Monitoring Technology (pRMT) app to collect smartphone sensor data and to use the FitBit device for collecting physical activity and sleep data. The RADAR-base’s active Remote Monitoring Technology (aRMT) app was used to provide questionnaires and gather feedback from the study participants.
We installed the RADAR-base platform on UHI infrastructure and configured the platform to meet their requirements. We also provided training to the end-users on how to use the platform and collect participant data using the pRMT app and FitBit device. We also trained the research team in implementing custom questionnaires on the aRMT app to be used for the study.
The outcome
Our team has completed RADAR-base installation and training the UHI research team in the use of the platform and accessing the collected data. The installed platform was used in an initial pilot project with 20 participants and a 6 weeks period of monitoring. The outcome of the pilot project is yet to be released.
"The RADAR-base platform enabled us to efficiently and effectively gather data remotely. Research participants found the RADAR-base apps easy to use and demonstrated high compliance.
My experiences with Hyve have been very good. They are a very friendly and highly skilled team available to extend help at any time. The staff were always very efficient. I was impressed by the transparency and quick response. My experiences with the support service were extremely positive. Thank you all for your help."
- Dr Daniel Crabtree, Research Fellow at The University of the Highlands and Islands.
RADAR-base