Identifying robust algorithms to monitor patient mobility in the community: an indicator of developing pressure ulcers

Individuals with impaired mobility often spend prolonged periods in bed or sitting in a chair, causing the onset of pressure-related soft tissue damage, termed pressure ulcers (PUs). PUs represent a disabling chronic condition recognised as both a Patient Safety and Quality of Care indicator for individuals in hospitals and the community, with an estimated cost of £4B pa.
Preventative strategies include pressure redistribution, regular postural change and microclimate management. Despite clinical guidance, not all patients are regularly repositioned. This has motivated the development of novel technologies to monitor movements and the biomechanical and microclimate conditions at the loaded support surface interface.
The project is designed to develop a novel algorithm incorporated into sensing technologies, including ForeSite(TM) pressure monitoring, environmental and shear sensors (Laszczak, et al 2015) and actimetry. A robust set of parameters sensitive to temporal and spatial profiles of pressure and movement and indicative of PU risk will be established.