Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Towards Improved Healthcare Performance: Examining Technological Possibilities and Patient Satisfaction with Wireless Body Area Networks

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Medical Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper investigates the benefits of using less intrusive wireless technologies for heart monitoring. By replacing well established heart monitoring devices (i.e. Holter) with wireless ECG based Body Area Networks (BAN), improved healthcare performance can be achieved, reflected in (1) high quality ECG recordings during physical activities and (2) increased patient satisfaction. A small scale clinical trial was conducted to compare both technologies and the results illustrate that the wireless ECG monitor was able to detect ECG signals intended for arrhythmia diagnostics. Furthermore, from a patient’s perspective, both technologies were evaluated using three dimensions, namely; hygienic aspects, physical activity, and skin reactions. Results demonstrate that the wireless ECG BAN showed better performance, especially regarding the hygienic aspects. It was also favourable for use during physical activities, and the signal quality of the wireless sensor system demonstrated good performance regarding signal noise and artefact disturbances. This paper concludes that wireless cardiac monitoring systems have significant benefits from a patient’s perspective, and further clinical trials should be conducted to further evaluate the new ECG based BAN system, to identify the possibility of widespread adoption and utilisation of wireless technology for arrhythmia diagnostics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Al Khatib, I., Bertozzi, D., Poletti, F., Benini, L., Jantsch, A., Bechara, M., Khalifeh, H., Hajjar, M., Nabiev, R., and Jonsson, S., Hardware/software architecture for real-time ECG monitoring and analysis leveraging MPSoC technology. Transactions on HiPEAC I, LNCS. 4050:239–258, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Guler, N. F., and Ubeyli, E. D., Theory and applications of telemedicine. J. Med. Syst. 26:199–220, 2002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Jovanov, E., Raskovic, D., Price, J., Chapman, J., Moore, A., and Krishnamurthy, A., Patient monitoring using personal area networks of wireless intelligent sensors. Biomed. Sci. Instrum. 37:373–378, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Anliker, U., Ward, J. A., Lukowicz, P., Troster, G., Dolveck, F., Baer, M., et al., AMON: a wearable multiparameter medical monitoring and alert system. Information Technology in Biomedicine. IEEE Trans. 8 (4)415–427, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Rubel, P., Fayn, J., Nollo, G., Assanelli, D., Li, B., Restier, L., et al., Toward personal eHealth in cardiology. Results from the EPI-MEDICS telemedicine project. J. Electrocardiol. 38 Supplement 1 (4)100–106, 2005. doi:10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2005.06.011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Roth, A., Korb, H., Gadot, R., and Kalter, E., Telecardiology for patients with acute or chronic cardiac complaints: The ‘SHL’ experience in Israel and Germany. Int. J. Med. Inform. 75 (9)643–645, 2006. doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2006.04.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Marculescu, D., Marculescu, R., Zamora, N. H., Stanley-Marbell, P., Khosla, P. K., Park, S., et al., Electronic textiles: A platform for pervasive computing. Proc. IEEE. 91 (12)1995–2018, 2003. doi:10.1109/JPROC.2003.819612.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Park, S., Jayaraman, S., On innovation, quality of life and technology of BodyNets’ Proceedings of the ICST 3rd international conference on Body area networks. Tempe, Arizona: ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, 2008.

  9. Demiris, G., Electronic home healthcare: concepts and challenges. Int. J. Electron. Healthc. 1 (1)4–16, 2004. doi:10.1504/IJEH.2004.004655.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Fenske, S., Challenges and Opportunities for Wireless Healthcare. www.wirelessdesignmag.com December, 2007.

  11. Williamson, P., Designing wireless products for the home healthcare market. www.wirelessdesignmag.com, 2007.

  12. Tan, J., E-Healthcare Information Systems: An Introduction for Students and Professionals, Wiley, 2005.

  13. Passanisi, C., Electrocardiography Essentials. Delmar Learning. 2001.

  14. Hopper, Telehealth and the diagnosis and management of cardiac disease. J. Telemed. Telecare. 7:249–256, 2001. doi:10.1258/1357633011936471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Bunch, T., White, R., Gersh, B., Meverden, R., Hodge, D., Ballman, K., Hammill, S., Shen, W., and Packer, D., Long-term outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest after successful early defibrillation. N. Engl. J. Med. 348:2626–2633, 2003. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa023053.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Corrigan, D., and Paton, J., Pilot study of objective cough monitoring in Infants. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 35:350–357, 2003. doi:10.1002/ppul.10267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Hoch, J. S., Rockx, M., and Krahn, A., Using the net benefit regression framework to construct cost-effectiveness acceptrability curves: an example using data from a trial of external loop recorders versus Holter monitoring for ambulatory monitoring of community acquired syncope. in BMC Health Service Results, June, 2006.

  18. Fensli, R., Pedersen, P. E., et al., Sensor Acceptance Model—Measuring patient acceptance of wearable sensors. Methods Inf. Med. 47 (1)89–95, 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Istepanian, R., Woodward, B., Gorilas, E., and Balos, P., Designing of mobile telemedicine systems using GSM and IS-54 cellular telephone standards. J. Telemed. Telecare. 4 (1)80–82, 1998. doi:10.1258/1357633981931579.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Andreasson, J., Ekstrom, M., Fard, A., Castano, J., Johnson, T., Remote system for patient monitoring using bluetooth. Sensors-02, Proceedings of the IEEE, 2002.

  21. Scherr, D., Dalal, D., Henrikson, C., Spragg, D., Berger, R., Calkins, H., and Cheng, A., Prospective comparison of the diagnostic utility of a standard event monitor versus a “leadless” portable ECG monitor in the evaluation of patients with palpitations. J. Interv. Card. Electrophysiol. 22:1, 2008. doi:10.1007/s10840-008-9251-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Huntleigh Healthcare: Medilog AR4 Digital Holter Recorder. http://www.medilogdarwin.com/Medilog_AR4.html

  23. Wireless Patient Recording Medical, A.S.: Wireless ECG sensor. http://www.wprmedical.com

  24. Fensli, R., and Boisen, E., Human factors affecting the patient’s acceptance of wireless biomedical sensors. In: Fred, A., Filipe, J., and Gamboa, H., (Eds.), BIOSTEC 2008, CCIS 25.402–12. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer, 2008.

  25. Giorgi, A., Aanstoos, C. M., and William, F. F., Phenomenology and psychological research. Duquesne University Press, Pittsburgh, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Bland, J. M., and Altman, D. G., Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement. Lancet. 1 (8476)307–310, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The study is supported by the Research Council of Norway in co-operation with Sørlandets Teknologisenter. The clinical trials have been done in close co-operation with Sørlandet Hospital HF, Arendal, the general practitioners at Legegruppen Grandgården and Tromøy Legesenter and the company WPR Medical AS.

The authors wish to thank Tormod Snaprud, Ellen Ytrehus and Åse Løsnesløkken at Sørlandet Hospital HF, Nils Nærdal, Mark Fagan and Inger Ødegård at Tromøy Legesenter and Eirik Aanonsen at WPR Medical for their excellent assistance with the patients during clinical trials.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Agder, Grimstad, Norway

    Rune Fensli

  2. Faculty of Health and Sport, University of Agder, Arendal, Norway

    Jan Gunnar Dale

  3. Business Information Systems, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Philip O’Reilly, John O’Donoghue & David Sammon

  4. Sørlandet Hospital HF, Medical Department, Arendal, Norway

    Torstein Gundersen

Authors
  1. Rune Fensli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jan Gunnar Dale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Philip O’Reilly
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. John O’Donoghue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. David Sammon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Torstein Gundersen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philip O’Reilly.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fensli, R., Dale, J.G., O’Reilly, P. et al. Towards Improved Healthcare Performance: Examining Technological Possibilities and Patient Satisfaction with Wireless Body Area Networks. J Med Syst 34, 767–775 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-009-9291-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-009-9291-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation