Summary
Treatments for childhood cancer have improved greatly, and today more than 80% survive their cancer in developed countries. However, these treatments can also cause side effects that may affect a child's health during and after treatment.
Infections are very common during cancer treatment and affect up to 90% of children. In some cases, infections can become very serious and lead to a condition called septic shock, which can be life-threatening. Getting antibiotics quickly - ideally within one hour of a fever starting - can make a big difference to outcomes. Delays can lead to longer hospital stays, admission to intensive care, and more complications.
Changes in the body, such as heart rate or temperature, can happen up to three days before a fever starts. This means there may be an opportunity to detect infection earlier and start treatment sooner.
This study aims to explore whether a wearable device (like a smartwatch) can help spot early signs of infection in children receiving cancer treatment. By collecting body data and using computer programs (machine learning) to look for patterns, researchers hope to improve early detection of infection and reduce illness and distress for children and their families in the future.
How does it work?
This is a silent pilot study, which means it does not change the child's medical care and the goal is to collect information to help build a prediction tool for future studies.
Who can take part?
Children and young people aged 5 to 18 years with a new cancer diagnosis who are currently receiving treatment at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. They must have access to an iPhone, either their own or a parent/guardian's phone.
What happens if you take part?
- After consent, the child will be given a wearable device, which will be paired with an iPhone
- The WEARABLES app will be installed on the phone
- The wearable will collect body measurements (such as heart rate and activity) automatically
- The child will wear the device for 4 weeks
- Once a week, a short survey will be sent asking about symptoms or any hospital visits for infection
- At the end of the 4 weeks, there will be a final survey asking about the experience of wearing the wearable
What happens after the study?
Involvement in the study finishes after the 4-week period. The information collected will be used to help develop a computer model that may predict infection earlier. This model will be tested in a future study.