Oxford Plastics (United Kingdom)

Abstract BackgroundDistress and agitation are predictors of entry into long‐term care and health inequalities (Schulz et al., 2004, Weir et al., 2022). Physiological data has been shown to reliably predict distress (Goodwin et al., 2019), yet wearable devices have low acceptance rates (Koumpouros & Kafazis, 2019). The current study discusses findings from a multifaceted approach investigating the detection of early signs of distress via physiological sensors in a foot‐worn device.MethodFirstly, the acceptance and concern ratings for a foot‐worn device, SmartSocks, wrist‐worn devices, Empatica E4 and Shimmer GSR+, and chest‐worn device, Equivital within a healthy population (N = 10) were assessed with a self‐report questionnaire. Secondly, data accuracy between Shimmer ECG and Polar OH1+ was compared within a healthy population (N = 12) in a standing, sitting and supine position. Finally, an ongoing ecologically valid feasibility trial (N = 2) involving participants with dementia or a learning disability is assessing the reliability of physiological data and AI‐detected stress from SmartSocks relative to subjective ratings of distress, the Abbey Pain Scale (APS), and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI).ResultFirstly, the SmartSocks received lowest concern ratings compared to wrist‐ and chest‐worn devices (1.64 vs <1.71). Secondly, the accuracy of SmartSocks pulse rate (PR) estimates obtained using photoplethysmography (PPG) in combination with the delineator algorithm was determined by comparing estimates to a Shimmer 1‐lead ECG, recording Mean Absolute Error (MAE)<5bpm at 64HZ for participants in a supine position (Fig. 1). This led to the development of new features for classifying PPG signal quality using neural networks, achieving approximately 95% accuracy. Finally, the initial stage of the feasibility trial indicated APS and NPI scores were lower after the participant with dementia wore SmartSocks for two weeks. Physiological data collected from the participant with a learning disability using SmartSocks showed moderate correlation (χ2 = 0.45) between the reported and AI‐detected stress over the day (Fig. 2 & 3).ConclusionEarly findings suggest SmartSocks are more comfortable than comparable wrist‐ and chest‐worn devices, and validity of the data is comparable to other devices. Preliminary data obtained from people with dementia and learning disabilities suggest SmartSocks are capable of detecting distress to alleviate user discomfort.

Abstract BackgroundCurrently ∼50% of people with dementia experience behavioural symptoms linked to unmanaged distress. Effective and safe management of these symptoms is critical to maintain the quality of life and overall care of people with dementia. Technological solutions have the potential to help with research into these symptoms. Milbotix are a health tech start‐up who are developing ‘SmartSocks®, a sock‐based wearable that provides wellbeing insights: notably by continually monitoring the physiological state of the wearer to recognise early signs of distress. In this study we will assess the acceptability and feasibility of SmartSocks® for clinical research in dementia in a care home environment.Method30 people with dementia living in care homes in the UK will be asked to wear the SmartSocks®. We will conduct a survey of care home staff to assess the acceptability of the SmartSocks® so that we can ensure the socks are suitable for the care home environment. We will then carry out a focus group with care home staff to evaluate the integration of the SmartSocks® into care planning so that we can determine how care homes use the socks alongside best practice in care. We will determine the concurrent validity of SmartSocks® data with established measures of agitation and pain so that we can evaluate the potential of the socks to be used to deliver better care and used as objective outcome measures in clinical trials. Finally, we will estimate the cost of providing the socks and will assess if there are differences between the groups in resource use utilization and health related quality of life data.ResultWe present a protocol for feasibility and acceptability study of a novel wearable technology.ConclusionThe study will start recruiting in July 2024 and finish in December 2024. Results will be used to inform the design of larger substantive studies that will test the efficacy of SmartSocks® in managing and measuring agitation and distress in care homes.

Veterinary RecordVolume 178, Issue 19 p. 477-477 Letter Welfare of exotic pets Martin L. Whitehead, Corresponding Author Martin L. Whitehead martincnvets@gmail.com Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital, Banbury Road, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 5SYSearch for more papers by this author Martin L. Whitehead, Corresponding Author Martin L. Whitehead martincnvets@gmail.com Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital, Banbury Road, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 5SYSearch for more papers by this author First published: 07 May 2016 https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.i2517Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume178, Issue19May 2016Pages 477-477 RelatedInformation

JONES and others ( VR , May 25, 2013, vol 172, p 562) argue that the BVA should withdraw its support for the Government's policy of pilot badger culls because the method of culling – the shooting of free-roaming badgers at night with shotguns and rifles – is likely to have detrimental welfare impacts on a large number of badgers (ie, those which may be shot and injured, but not killed outright). Some …

MIKE Davies is concerned by the widespread off-label use of medicines by veterinary surgeons, and cites the use of oral tramadol as an analgesic for osteoarthritis as an example ( VR , June 30, 2012, vol 170, p 680). He is right to express concern about the possible side effects and lack of efficacy of unlicensed medicines, but – like the medicines regulators themselves – appears to see less than half the picture. The current licensing system has major drawbacks. Three that are relevant are: ▪Only those medicines likely to make a substantial profit for a manufacturer will become licensed, thus introducing a degree of arbitrariness to which drugs will become licensed. There are many therapeutic niches where useful medicines exist that would improve the welfare of animals, but which are unlikely to make a profit for a manufacturer and so are unlikely to be licensed under the current system. Perhaps one such niche is a ‘secondary’ oral analgesic – that is, in addition to a licensed NSAID, or instead of an NSAID in those cases where NSAIDs are contraindicated – for long-term home use for conditions such as osteoarthritis. This is where unlicensed opioids such as tramadol are currently used. ▪The licensing system guarantees that the licensed analgesics have at least some efficacy and tells us the more common side effects they have (it misses some of the rare, and, indeed, some common, side effects). That is valuable and …

Lucy Evans of the RCVS Professional Conduct Department, comments: The first principle of the 12 principles of veterinary certification is as stated in Mr Whitehead’s letter. Therefore, a veterinary surgeon should not certify that his client has had a prescription filled by an internet pharmacy, as

A review of the literature concerning the effect of oestrogens for treating mismating in bitches on the occurrence of pyometra indicated that low doses of oestradiol benzoate substantially increase the incidence of pyometra. A retrospective study of the clinical records of a uk general practice found that the incidence of pyometra in the four months after administration of low doses of oestradiol benzoate was 8·7 per cent, whereas the incidence in the practice's untreated at-risk population was estimated to be less than 1·32 per cent per interoestrus interval, suggesting that more than 85 per cent of pyometras occurring within four months of treatment are iatrogenic.