Feasibility and validation of a novel mobility monitoring sensor in hospitalized patients: A prospective cohort study
Abstract Background: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are a preventable source of patient harm, contributing to morbidity, mortality, and billions in healthcare costs. Risk assessment tools rely on subjective evaluation and may not accurately capture real-time mobility. Existing technol...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Translational Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866125101106/type/journal_article |
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| author | Samuel Smith Leah Steckler |
| author_facet | Samuel Smith Leah Steckler |
| author_sort | Samuel Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Abstract
Background:
Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are a preventable source of patient harm, contributing to morbidity, mortality, and billions in healthcare costs. Risk assessment tools rely on subjective evaluation and may not accurately capture real-time mobility. Existing technologies have not been widely adopted and have failed to significantly reduce HAPI rates. Our study explores the feasibility of a novel, wireless mattress-attachable motion sensor designed for continuous mobility monitoring in hospitalized patients.
Methods:
Sensor accuracy was first validated against video analysis in three healthy volunteers. A single-arm prospective cohort study was then conducted in hospitalized patients. A motion sensor was attached to each patient’s bed to continuously record movement. Sensor-derived mobility data were compared with nursing-assessed mobility scores and other patient characteristics. Simulated immobility alerts were generated based on periods of inactivity.
Results:
The sensor’s movement detection strongly correlated with video-based analysis in three healthy volunteers (r = 0.89, 95% CI [0.51, 0.99]). Forty-seven patients were enrolled with an average of 9.7 movements/hour and average recording duration of 22.9 hours. No significant differences in age, comorbidities, or nursing mobility scores were observed between high- and low-movement groups. Simulated immobility alerts identified 15 patients who would have triggered a notification, predominantly those with lower movement and BMI.
Conclusions:
The sensor system provides objective mobility data and overcomes limitations of current assessment tools. These findings support its potential role in pressure injury prevention and highlight key areas for future clinical integration.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bb850170cc9942bbbe0f2e4d2b8efc6d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2059-8661 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical and Translational Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-bb850170cc9942bbbe0f2e4d2b8efc6d2025-08-20T03:03:16ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Clinical and Translational Science2059-86612025-01-01910.1017/cts.2025.10110Feasibility and validation of a novel mobility monitoring sensor in hospitalized patients: A prospective cohort studySamuel Smith0https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7746-7833Leah Steckler1George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USAGeorge Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA Abstract Background: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are a preventable source of patient harm, contributing to morbidity, mortality, and billions in healthcare costs. Risk assessment tools rely on subjective evaluation and may not accurately capture real-time mobility. Existing technologies have not been widely adopted and have failed to significantly reduce HAPI rates. Our study explores the feasibility of a novel, wireless mattress-attachable motion sensor designed for continuous mobility monitoring in hospitalized patients. Methods: Sensor accuracy was first validated against video analysis in three healthy volunteers. A single-arm prospective cohort study was then conducted in hospitalized patients. A motion sensor was attached to each patient’s bed to continuously record movement. Sensor-derived mobility data were compared with nursing-assessed mobility scores and other patient characteristics. Simulated immobility alerts were generated based on periods of inactivity. Results: The sensor’s movement detection strongly correlated with video-based analysis in three healthy volunteers (r = 0.89, 95% CI [0.51, 0.99]). Forty-seven patients were enrolled with an average of 9.7 movements/hour and average recording duration of 22.9 hours. No significant differences in age, comorbidities, or nursing mobility scores were observed between high- and low-movement groups. Simulated immobility alerts identified 15 patients who would have triggered a notification, predominantly those with lower movement and BMI. Conclusions: The sensor system provides objective mobility data and overcomes limitations of current assessment tools. These findings support its potential role in pressure injury prevention and highlight key areas for future clinical integration. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866125101106/type/journal_articleBiomedical technologymobility limitationpatient monitoringpressure ulcersecondary disease preventionwireless sensing |
| spellingShingle | Samuel Smith Leah Steckler Feasibility and validation of a novel mobility monitoring sensor in hospitalized patients: A prospective cohort study Journal of Clinical and Translational Science Biomedical technology mobility limitation patient monitoring pressure ulcer secondary disease prevention wireless sensing |
| title | Feasibility and validation of a novel mobility monitoring sensor in hospitalized patients: A prospective cohort study |
| title_full | Feasibility and validation of a novel mobility monitoring sensor in hospitalized patients: A prospective cohort study |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility and validation of a novel mobility monitoring sensor in hospitalized patients: A prospective cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility and validation of a novel mobility monitoring sensor in hospitalized patients: A prospective cohort study |
| title_short | Feasibility and validation of a novel mobility monitoring sensor in hospitalized patients: A prospective cohort study |
| title_sort | feasibility and validation of a novel mobility monitoring sensor in hospitalized patients a prospective cohort study |
| topic | Biomedical technology mobility limitation patient monitoring pressure ulcer secondary disease prevention wireless sensing |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866125101106/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT samuelsmith feasibilityandvalidationofanovelmobilitymonitoringsensorinhospitalizedpatientsaprospectivecohortstudy AT leahsteckler feasibilityandvalidationofanovelmobilitymonitoringsensorinhospitalizedpatientsaprospectivecohortstudy |