Feasibility and Acceptability of Wearable Cameras to Assess Self-care in People With Heart Failure: Pilot Study (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Heart failure (HF) is a progressive and debilitating disease with a broad symptom profile, intermittently marked by periods of acute decompensation. People living with HF generally do not self-manage their condition well (monitoring symptoms, physical activity etc). A better understanding of how people self-manage, and what factors may indicate deterioration is warranted. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of wearable cameras to understand the living experience of people with HF. METHODS Thirty people recently diagnosed with HF wore a camera for a maximum of 30 days; the camera took a photo every 30 seconds in the forward facing direction. Camera images were reviewed manually and coded according to 13 different self-management categories. Images were also reviewed and compared for periods adjacent and non-adjacent to rehospitalization (n = 8). RESULTS Participants reported high acceptability to wear the cameras. Camera images showed participants undertook fewer activities of daily living (p = 0.008) and were more sedentary (p = 0.017) prior to being rehospitalized, compared to two weeks before hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS Wearable cameras have potential to be a valuable tool for identifying self-management behaviours and could be used to better support people living with HF.