Published: 28 April 2006
Supporting self care – a practical option
The Department of Health has recently published a document - Supporting self care – a practical option: Diagnostic, monitoring and assistive tools, devices, technologies and equipment to support self care.
The full report is divided into three parts in cascading levels of detail:
· Part I gives a quick overview of self care devices and their implementation issues.
· Part II gives some details on the devices and some details on their research.
· Part II gives additional information on the devices where available and additional research references for those who want more information.
Key messages
The range of tools, devices, technologies and equipment being used to support self care is broad and complex, but there are some commonalities that have surfaced during this research:
· The best benefit to cost ratio for the devices will result from the deployment of the most appropriate solution for individual needs. Rather than being ‘technology-driven’, all solutions must be ‘needs-led’ and identify the most appropriate technology to fit.
· There is considerable scope for improved health outcomes at modest investment through effective use of simple, cheap devices and technologies such as pedometers and glucose monitors.
· As there is increasing use of mobile phones in the general population, healthcare solutions can be implemented quickly and cheaply using such technology already owned by people.
· With maturation of the technology, there is an increasing move to more wireless monitoring.
· There is evidence to suggest that home telecare might not offer incremental benefit beyond telephone follow-up and is more expensive.
· Devices that require central monitoring services entail more complexity and hidden costs to implement.
· There are important issues to be considered around the lack of inter-operability and standards across devices.
There is little evidence of collaborative research. This may ultimately limit the exploitation of the enormous potential of various technologies. Therefore joint research between proprietors of devices is highly desirable.
· Continuous monitoring devices appear promising, but further research needs to be done to assess the effectiveness of the wide range of products available.
Issues have been raised around accuracy, alarm setting and user comfort for many devices.
· Research evidence for the effectiveness of self care devices is not yet available for all the various devices currently in use. Often small scale pilot research studies have been conducted.
Further examples of tools, devices, equipment and technologies for supporting self care will be welcome and should be sent to Ayesha Dost at the Department of Health at ayesha.dost@dh.gsi.gov.uk.
Further information
DH Self care website
Supporting self care – a practical option: Diagnostic, monitoring and assistive tools, devices, technologies and equipment to support self care:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
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