Assessment of the reliability and usability of pulse oximetry and thermometers performed by patients

This study will focus on the reliability and acceptability of the iHealth Air pulse oximeter and iHealth thermometer when combined with the newly developed software interface to the electronic medical record. The iHealth Air pulse oximeter is currently used in rpaVirtual, and although it is blue-tooth enabled, its readings are entered manually into the electronic medical record by clinical staff. Sydney Local Health District ICT have developed a software interface that permits pulse rate and SpO2 data from the iHealth Air and skin temperature from iHealth thermometer to be recorded directly into the electronic medical record via an iPhone application using blue-tooth transmission. This study will evaluate the iHealth Air & iHealth Thermometer-eMR interface package. Participants will be recruited amongst inpatients at Royal Prince Alfred hospital. Participants will be given an iHealth Air pulse oximeter, an iHealth thermometer and an iPhone preloaded with the required software application. A researcher will provide in-person training to the participant in how to use the devices, and answer any questions that they have. The participant will also be given a written education materials to refer to during the trial. Over a 24 hour period, participants will hold the thermometer up to their forehead to measure temperature and apply the pulse oximeter to the target finger to measure their pulse rate and SpO2 on each occasion that the nursing staff take the routine vital sign observations. They will be encouraged to do so as soon as possible after the nurse completes the observations, approximately every 6 hours. They will also record whether they had any difficulties in using the thermometer, oximeter or mobile phone in the patient logbook. The logbook can be on-line or paper-based according to patient preference. At the end of the 24 hour period, participants will fill in the acceptability questionnaire and the researcher will collect the thermometer, the oximeter and the iPhone together with the filled in forms. The acceptability questionnaire can be completed on-line or in hard copy as preferred by the participant. It is NSW health policy that patients in hospital have observations including oximetry every 6 hours unless otherwise decided by their treating team. The patient will not be woken up specifically for research, but only as the clinical requirements indicate.