Data_Sheet_1_Evaluation of 1-Year in-Home Monitoring Technology by Home-Dwelling Older Adults, Family Caregivers, and Nurses.DOCX

Introduction: Population aging is increasing the needs and costs of healthcare. Both frailty and the chronic diseases affecting older people reduce their ability to live independently. However, most older people prefer to age in their own homes. New development of in-home monitoring can play a role in staying independent, active, and healthy for older people. This 12-month observational study aimed to evaluate a new in-home monitoring system among home-dwelling older adults (OA), their family caregivers (FC), and nurses for the support of home care.
Methods: The in-home monitoring system evaluated in this study continuously monitored OA's daily activities (e.g., mobility, sleep habits, fridge visits, door events) by ambient sensor system (DomoCare®) and health-related events by wearable sensors (Activity tracker, ECG). In the case of deviations in daily activities, alerts were transmitted to nurses via email. Using specific questionnaires, the opinions of 13 OA, 13 FC, and 20 nurses were collected at the end of 12-months follow-up focusing on user experience and the impact of in-home monitoring on home care services.
Results: The majority of OA, FC, and nurses considered that in-home sensors can help with staying at home, improving home care and quality of life, preventing domestic accidents, and reducing family stress. The opinion tended to be more frequently favorable toward ambient sensors (76%; 95% CI: 61–87%) than toward wearable sensors (Activity tracker: 65%; 95% CI: 50–79%); ECG: 60%; 95% CI: 45–75%). On average, OA (74%; 95% CI: 46–95%) and FC (70%; 95% CI: 39–91%) tended to be more enthusiastic than nurses (60%; 95% CI: 36–81%). Some barriers reported by nurses were a fear of weakening of the relationship with OA and lack of time.
Discussion/Conclusion: Overall, the opinions of OA, FC, and nurses were positively related to in-home sensors, with nurses being less enthusiastic about their use in clinical practice.

引言：人口老龄化正持续推高医疗保健的需求与成本。衰弱症与影响老年人的慢性疾病，均会削弱其独立生活能力。然而绝大多数老年人更倾向于在自家中安度晚年。居家监测技术的新进展，可助力老年人维持独立、积极且健康的生活状态。本项为期12个月的观察性研究，旨在评估一款新型居家监测系统，用于居家老年人群（home-dwelling older adults, OA）、家属照料者（family caregivers, FC）及护士的居家照护支持。

方法：本研究评估的居家监测系统，通过环境传感器系统（ambient sensor system，DomoCare®）持续监测OA的日常活动（如活动能力、睡眠习惯、冰箱取用、房门触发事件），并通过可穿戴传感器（wearable sensors，活动追踪器、心电图（ECG））监测健康相关事件。当日常活动出现异常时，系统将通过电子邮件向护士发送警报。在12个月随访结束时，研究通过专用问卷收集了13名OA、13名FC及20名护士的意见，重点关注用户体验以及居家照护服务的影响。

结果：绝大多数OA、FC及护士均认为，居家传感器有助于老年人居家养老、改善居家照护与生活质量、预防居家意外并缓解家庭照料压力。相较于可穿戴传感器（活动追踪器：65%；95%置信区间：50%~79%；心电图：60%；95%置信区间：45%~75%），受访者对环境传感器的支持率更高（76%；95%置信区间：61%~87%）。平均而言，OA（74%；95%置信区间：46%~95%）与FC（70%；95%置信区间：39%~91%）的认可度较护士（60%；95%置信区间：36%~81%）更高。护士报告的部分障碍包括担忧与老年人群的关系会淡化，以及缺乏充足时间。

讨论/结论：总体而言，OA、FC及护士对居家传感器的态度均呈积极倾向，但护士对其在临床实践中的应用热情相对较低。