The emerging clinical role of wearables: factors for successful implementation in healthcare

Abstract

Wearable technologies promise to redefine assessment of health behaviors, yet their clinical implementation remains a challenge. To address this gap, two of the NIH’s Big Data to Knowledge Centers of Excellence organized a workshop on potential clinical applications of wearables. A workgroup comprised of 14 stakeholders from diverse backgrounds (hospital administration, clinical medicine, academia, insurance, and the commercial device industry) discussed two successful digital health interventions that involve wearables to identify common features responsible for their success. Seven features were identified including: a clearly defined problem, integration into a system of healthcare delivery, technology support, personalized experience, focus on end-user experience, alignment with reimbursement models, and inclusion of clinician champions. Health providers and systems keen to establish new models of care inclusive of wearables may consider these features during program design. A better understanding of these features is necessary to guide future clinical applications of wearable technology.

A cardiovascular clinic patients’ survey to assess challenges and opportunities of digital health adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Despite the potential for digital health and wearable devices to augment patient care, there remain challenges regarding collaboration involving all stakeholders, including patients, providers, payers and technology industries, and subsequent implementation of mobile health tools. 2 , 4 Given that consumers are the main drivers of the digital health trend, there active and encouraged engagement will be key to maximize health and socioeconomic benefits of wearables. Certain factors, including socioeconomic and cultural factors, may impact patient attitudes towards and adoption of wearables.…”

Empowering clinical research in a decentralized world

“…Other DHTs capable of digital endpoint monitoring include low-risk, consumer-grade devices that may measure clinically relevant endpoints, such as blood oxygen saturation, pulse, respiratory rate, and temperature. These technologies may also engage signal processing and ML algorithms that operate either on- or off-device (i.e., in the cloud and separated from the signal-capturing DHT) 11 , 16 .…”

Transcatheter treatment for tricuspid valve disease

“…Alongside the established VARC 95 and MVARC 96 criteria, the definition of standardised endpoints and definitions will ensure homogenous event reporting, accurate adjudication, and appropriate comparisons of clinical research studies involving new devices and therapeutic strategies for the treatment of TV disease. Given that endpoints of future studies are likely to be based largely on quality of life measures, levels of physical activity and assessement of volume status, new innovative concepts including wearable technology [97][98][99] and implantable HF monitoring devices will play an important role 100 . Since anatomical limitations, in particular large annulus size, still restrain eligibility, technological improvements are needed to address the needs of a broader population of patients.…”