Description
Introduction
Smart home, wearable, and mobile sensor technologies are increasingly ubiquitous and represent previously unavailable opportunities to support research in daily living settings. However, investigators who conduct technology research in home environments face challenges of recruitment, generalizability of results, reusability and obsolescence of technology, data and algorithm transparency from proprietary devices, and sustainability of research efforts beyond funded study periods. The Home-based Smart Health Applications across Research Environments (HomeSHARE) project is a multi-institute smart technology infrastructure initiative implementing a geograIntroduction
Smart home, wearable, and mobile sensor technologies are increasingly ubiquitous and have potential to enable previously unavailable opportunities to support research in daily living settings. However, investigators who conduct technology research in home environments face challenges of recruitment, generalizability of results, reusability and obsolescence of technology, data and algorithm transparency from proprietary devices, and sustainability of research efforts beyond funded study periods. The Home-based Smart Health Applications across Research Environments (HomeSHARE) project is a multi-institute smart technology infrastructure initiative (NSF Award #s: 1629202, 1629468, 1625451, and 1629437) implementing a distributed testbed to design, develop, and evaluate a diversity of devices in participant homes and serve the needs of multiple research communities including: informatics, gerontology, computer science, nursing, and public health. Current HomeSHARE sites are located at University of Colorado (CU), Indiana University (IU), University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and Clemson University.
The current HomeSHARE implementation relies on a 1) smart home system: sensors (motion and contact sensors) installed in the home that transmit activity data to a hub via wi-fi then to a project database via the internet; 2) system servers: servers located in a data center with a research console for project configuration, sensor data export, and remote hub management; 3) smart watch: wearable activity monitors that transmit activity data via bluetooth to a tablet (then vendor and system servers); and 4) participant portal: a tablet with touchscreen that allows researchers to collect electronic self-report data from survey instruments and conduct remote video interviews. Participant self-report data are transmitted to a REDCap database.
Methods
A cross-site infrastructure demonstration study using the same mobility monitoring protocol1 in the homes of independent living participants 65+ years of age began in October 2018. Sensor and self-report data are being integrated and analyzed for correlations. Technology implementation factors and feature needs are being documented for infrastructure improvement.
Results
Eighteen participants (n=14 IU; n=4 CU) are enrolled. Enrollment is ongoing with planned enrollment of 15 participants at both sites. Deployments have informed requirements that will result in transitioning HomeSHARE to a new internet-of-things platform and improved features for integrated data reporting and remote technology management through a single research console. Figure 1 shows a future state architecture based on demonstration study implementation results to date.
Conclusion
We have successfully deployed a multi-institute smart technology infrastructure to support multiple research communities. An enhanced infrastructure study will scale HomeSHARE at CU, IU, UPenn, and Clemson (n=100 homes). Participant sensor data visualizations and implementation findings will be presented at AMIA 2019.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Jeffrey Kaye, MD and OrcaTech for technical partnership and Marjorie Skubic, PhD for consultation.
References
Reeder B, Meyer E, Lazar A, Chaudhuri S, Thompson HJ, Demiris G. Framing the evidence for health smart homes and home-based consumer health technologies as a public health intervention for independent aging: A systematic review. International Journal of Medical Informatics. 2013;82(7):565-579.
Learning Objective: Understand implementation issues relating to participant recruitment and technology deployment in home settings for multi-site studies, particularly for older adult participants, and identify approaches to overcome those challenges
Authors:
Blaine Reeder (Presenter)
University of Colorado College of Nursing
Haley Molchan, Indiana University
Eric Gutierrez, University of Colorado College of Nursing
Ewelina Pena, University of Colorado College of Nursing
Kelly Caine, Clemson University
George Demiris, University of Pennsylvania
Katie Siek, Indiana University
Kay Connelly, Indiana University
Presentation Materials: