Journal Article

A protocol for the evaluation of the PneumoWave biosensor in supported accommodation settings: A study on feasibility and acceptability (RESCU-2)

Appiah-Kusi, Elizabeth, Lawn, Will, Beer, Lewis, Meredith, Osian, Radley, Andrew, Tas, Basak, Adam, Alex, Henderson, Bruce, Strang, John, Pringle, Holly Maxwell, Belov, Iona, Cowan, Catriona, Dillon, John F., Radcliffe, Polly, Kelly, Stuart

2025

Overview

People who overdose on opioids when they are alone or unmonitored are at heightened risk of death as other people do not know they should provide an emergency response. Wearable technology provides an opportunity to continuously measure respiratory function and ultimately send an alert if respiratory depression occurs. This study evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of PneumoWave DC in UK homeless hostels or supported accommodation settings (equivalent to Housing First in the USA) for individuals at high risk of opioid overdose. The PneumoWave system consists of a wearable biosensor that is affixed to the chest and records chest motion and which, in future, could potentially provide early detection of respiratory depression and trigger overdose response. RESCU-2 is a non-randomised, observational trial conducted in supported accommodation facilities across the UK. 50 participants who currently use opioids and live in homeless hostels in England and Scotland will wear the PneumoWave biosensor for varying periods to collect data over 2,000 participant-days. The biosensor will be linked via Bluetooth to a hub for continuous respiratory data collection. Self-reported drug use during the trial will be measured using drug diaries. Quantitative acceptability data will be measured using structured satisfaction surveys, while qualitative acceptability data will be obtained from interviews and focus groups with both residents and staff. Statistical analysis will include descriptive evaluation of feasibility outcomes, while qualitative data will undergo thematic analysis. The primary objectives of the study are: 1) feasibility of the study protocol within the hostel setting; 2) acceptability and usability of the device among people who use opioids and live in hostels; 3) acceptability of the device among staff who work in hostels and respond to overdose events. Primary outcomes are recruitment, total hours of usable data collected and successful recording of key outcome measures, among others. Trial registration: ISRCTN12060022. Findings will inform the feasibility of future integration of chest biosensor technology into hostel settings, assessing participant adherence, usability, and acceptability among people who use substances and staff. Insights gained will support the design of future trials and further development of remote monitoring technologies for overdose prevention and response strategies.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Acceptability / Accommodation / Adjustment / Analgesics, Opioid - adverse effects / Attitude surveys / Biology and Life Sciences / Biosensing Techniques - instrumentation / Biosensing Techniques - methods / Biosensors / Chest / Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / Data collection / Diaries / Drug abuse / Drug overdose / Drug Overdose - diagnosis / Drug use / Drugs / Emergency preparedness / Emergency response / Engineering and Technology / Evaluation / Feasibility / Feasibility Studies / Female / Future / Harm reduction / Health aspects / High risk / Homeless people / Homelessness / Hostels / Housing / Humans / Ill-Housed Persons / Informed consent / Male / Measures / Medicine and Health Sciences / Mental depression / Mortality / Narcotics / Opioids / Overdose / Participation / Physical Sciences / Prevention / Qualitative analysis / Qualitative research / Quantitative analysis / Recruitment / Registration / Remote monitoring / Research and Analysis Methods / Respiratory function / Respiratory Insufficiency - chemically induced / Respiratory Insufficiency - diagnosis / Satisfaction / Sensors / Statistical analysis / Study Protocol / Technology / Testing / United Kingdom / Usability / Wearable Electronic Devices / Wearable technology