Cited by 61Healthcare Technology and Patient MonitoringInfant Development and Preterm CareNon-Invasive Vital Sign Monitoring

‘There were more wires than him’: the potential for wireless patient monitoring in neonatal intensive care

Open access
Bonner, Oliver, Beardsall, Kathryn, Crilly, Nathan, Lasenby, Joan·2017·BMJ Innovations

Abstract

Background: The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be one of the most stressful hospital environments. Alongside providing intensive clinical care, it is important that parents have the opportunity for regular physical contact with their babies because the neonatal period is critical for parent–child bonding. At present, monitoring technology in the NICU requires multiple wired sensors to track each baby's vital signs. This study describes the experiences that parents and nurses have with the current monitoring methods, and reports on their responses to the concept of a wireless monitoring system. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with six parents, each of whom had babies on the unit, and seven nurses who cared for those babies. The interviews initially focused on the participants’ experiences of the current wired system and then on their responses to the concept of a wireless system. The transcripts were analysed using a general inductive approach to identify relevant themes. Results: Participants reported on physical and psychological barriers to parental care, the ways in which the current system obstructed the efficient delivery of clinical care and the perceived benefits and risks of a wireless system. The parents and nurses identified that the wires impeded baby–parent bonding; physically and psychologically. While a wireless system was viewed as potentially enabling greater interaction, staff and parents highlighted potential concerns, including the size, weight and battery life of any new device. Conclusions: The many wires required to safely monitor babies within the NICU creates a negative environment for parents at a critical developmental period, in terms of physical and psychological interactions. Nurses also experience challenges with the existing system, which could negatively impact the clinical care delivery. Developing a wireless system could overcome these barriers, but there remain challenges in designing a device suitable for this unique environment.

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Crossref · 10.1136/bmjinnov-2016-000145

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  • Existing technologies for continuous vital sign monitoring require multiple electrodes and interfaces attached to the skin with adhesive tapes and connected by wires to electronic processing systems often tethered to the wall.

    “Continuous monitoring of vital signs is essential, yet existing technologies require the use of multiple electrodes and interfaces attached to the skin with adhesive tapes and connected by wires to electronic processing systems that are often tethered to the wall.”

    From Skin-interfaced biosensors for advanced wireless physiological monitoring in neonatal and pediatric intensive-care units (2020) · cites this paper as [3]

    The Introduction (page unavailable) describes multiple vital-sign sensors in a neonatal intensive care unit connected by wires to a monitoring unit outside the incubator. The Results (page unavailable) describe adhesive ECG and temperature probes, but say the pulse oximeter is secured with Velcro. The paper does not establish that the monitoring units are tethered to a wall or that all the interfaces use adhesive tape. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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  1. [12]World Health Organization. Guidelines on optimal feeding of low birth-weight infants in low- and middle-income countries (in IRIS). Geneva: World Health Organization, 2011. 26042325

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Authors
Bonner, O., Beardsall, K., Crilly, N., & Lasenby, J.
Affiliations
  • University of Cambridge (GB)
  • Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
Corresponding author
Bonner, Oliver
Venue
BMJ Innovations
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2017-01-04
Volume
3
Issue
1
Pages
12-18
ISSN
  • 2055-642X (ISSN-L)
  • 2055-8074
OpenAlex
W2569995179
Cited by
61
References
19
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1
FWCI
1.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • BMJ Innovations (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Cambridge University Engineering Department Publications Database (submittedVersion)
  • Apollo (University of Cambridge) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Apollo (cc-by)
Funders
  • University of Cambridge
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (1503900, EP/L015889/1, L015889)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Healthcare Technology and Patient Monitoring
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Non-Invasive Vital Sign Monitoring
Keywords
wireless patient monitoring, neonatal intensive care, parent-infant bonding, vital signs monitoring, parental experiences, nurses' experiences, medical device design

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