CATCH receives congratulations from Pro-Vice Chancellor Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health

CATCH were delighted this month to receive congratulations from the Vice President and Pro-Vice Chancellor Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, Professor Dame Pam Shaw.

CATCH played a key role in consortia that won two prestigious funding calls and has also had papers published in a high impact journal.

FDA approves vital signs monitor

Another FDA cleared device: a HealthPatch MD which is a small wireless sensor that a patient wears on their chest. The patch detects a number of vital signs and transmits the data, wirelessly, to a smartphone. The vital signs include single-lead ECG, heart rate monitor, heart rate variability respiratory rate, temperature, steps taken and body posture. The data then gets relayed to a healthcare provider.

To find out more click here.

Day Clock for those living with dementia

The Day Clock aims to help those living with dementia maintain their daily routine. It provides reminders for the individual, and constantly displays the day, time of day (morning, afternoon, evening, night) and aims to reduce anxiety and increase independence.
The clock designers worked closely with people living with dementia. The clock has won a South West Innovation Award and was a finalist in the National Dementia Care Awards.

What can the clock do?

• Displays time
• Plug in and "play" after purchase
• Secure "lock" button to prevent accidentally pressing buttons/changing settings
• Optional corner lights for night time
• 12 months warranty

For more information or to find out how to order one, please visit the designability website.

Starting Motor Project comes to an end

The Starting Motor Project, a feasibility study, which was a collaboration of three of the CLAHRC-SY themes- Telehealthand Care Technology (TaCT), Obesity and Diabetes-in partnership with the Nutrition Unit of the University of Sheffield, has ended in December, 2013.The aim of the study was to investigate the use of a motivational mobile digital device (Aipermotion 500) as part of a weight loss intervention for obese or overweight people with diabetes.

                          

Aipermotion 500

27 obese/overweight people with diabetes participated in the mixed methods study for 16 weeks. These people were randomized into three groups: Education on diet and exercise, Education and device employed in self –management and Education and device employed with extra motivational support.

Being a feasibility study, we were able to conclude that:

•  A randomised controlled trial of mobile digital technology for overweight people with diabetes is feasible.
• Technology was acceptable to this population as shown in their high level of adherence to the device and from feedback at focus group sessions.
• Technology was seen to be a motivational tool for increase in exercise and diet-control.
• Overall, after 3 months of using the intervention, over 30% of the intervention arm participants lost a clinically significant amount of weight, while over 65% of the intervention arms had a significant decrease in blood glucose levels.

Some of quotes below are what participants had to say about the Aipermotion 500:

‘oh there wasn’t just one (feature liked) I mean the reward system was good, if you didn’t have a particularly good day, to see those red steps come up, oh dear that’s not very good at all (laughs), must try better!’

‘the device is brilliant….its really in the last year changed me round…thank you…I’ve lost quite a bit of weight now…had to buy new clothes, it’s cost me a fortune!’

We are in the process of writing academic papers and applying for more funding for the next stage, ‘Driving Motor’ which will be a pilot study. We have support from CLAHRC Yorkshire and Humber and are looking for EU partners for Horizon 2020 funding.

For further information please contact Dr Peter Cudd (University of Sheffield)
Email: P.Cudd@sheffield.ac.uk

RAT group members at the Social and Technological Innovations for an Ageing Population Event

This week saw the Social and Technological Innovations foran Ageing Population Event held at the University of Sheffield.

It was an opportunity for all University of Sheffield researchers involved in this area to come together leading up to the EU’s Horizon 2020 call, the European Union’s funding programme for research and innovation beyond 2014, which has focus areas relating to personalised health and care including active ageing and self managing of health.

The workshop aimed to:

·      Assess the state of the art in research on social and technological innovation for an ageing population

·      Identify gaps in research and social policy

·      Identify the major challenges to the effective promotion and take-up of social technological innovations

·      Map potential research collaborations within the University

The day started with talks from Professor Mark Hawley and Professor Gail Mountain from the RAT group, along with colleagues Professor Alan Walker and Dr Bridgette Wessels in the Department of Sociological Studies and Dr Nadir Osman in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, setting out current research being undertaken at Sheffield. It explored how to further develop a research strategy and undertake interdisciplinary research across the University, highlighting the importance of linking technological (e.g. assisted living devices), social (e.g. user groups and communities) and institutional (e.g. health reforms and social policy) innovations together and consider some of the methodological implications of this process.

Overall it was a very worthwhile event showing great potential for the University of Sheffield’s continuing research into autonomous and active ageing in preparation for the EU’s Horizon 2020 funding programme.