The Step Home Trial: Utilising Physical Activity Data in the Acute Post-operative Setting

This is an observational study, which aims to assess how physical activity levels following surgical procedures correlate with patient recovery and length of hospital stay, as well as the utility of this physical activity data to the postoperative surgical team. Surgical teams frequently enquire about their patients' physical activity levels on postoperative ward rounds. Although this information is often provided anecdotally by nursing staff and junior doctors, there are no objective data made available to the clinician. Such data has the potential to supplement other observations (e.g. heart rate, blood pressure, temperature) to help gain an impression of a patient's recovery and physical status, this in turn could provide evidence to help facilitate early discharge as well as to predict medium to longterm outcomes. Advances in wearable technology allow the investigators to collect detailed information with regard to activity with minimal disruption.

Recent literature has shown that these wristworn sensors can feasibly be worn in hospital pre and postoperatively, with evidence of a correlation between the amount of steps taken postoperatively and the length of hospital stay. This study will provide further evidence for the usability and utility of wearable sensors in the inpatient surgical setting. It will provide supporting evidence for surgeons to confidently analyse and assess patients in hospital, allowing for safe and expedient discharge home as well as identify highrisk patients who are likely to require extra support and surveillance in the community setting.