An explorative study to assess the potential impact of the Incosense Smart in Envida

People in Europe are getting older which is accompanied by increasing health
care costs. Healthcare costs rose between 2005 and 2014 from 111,7 million euro
to 160 million euro. Partly, this is due to inefficiencies in incontinence
care; not saturated incontinence material is being changed. On the other hand
incontinence material is being changed while this should have been done
earlier, resulting in leaking incontinence material.

IncoSense Smart is a measurement tool that aims to contribute to solving these
inefficiencies. IncoSense Smart consists of a sensor which measures the
saturation of the incontinence materials, a notification system and a
management dashboard (www.incosensesmart.eu).

In 2016 a small study finished concluding that the incosense has potential in
daily practice. The Incosense Smart had been developed further based on the
feedback collected from care professionals and clients during the test. In
summer 2017, the Incosense Smart was technically validated in a test.

In order to be able to implement the Incosense Smart in future it is essential
to better understand the potential added value and impact of this device on the
level of the client, care professional, care processes and the organization.

The aim of this study is to explore the potential impact of the Incosense Smart
at the client, professional, care processes and organization.

The study concerns an explorative study in two units of elderly care facilities
of Envida. 20 to 40 clients will participate in the study. The study will last
10 weeks in total. The study will consist of a baseline measurement (T0) and a
period of 9 weeks in which the Incosense Smart is being introduced in a
stepwise manner (first notification, following by advise module). During three
weeks (T1, T4, T9) data will be collected through registration of incontinence
material changes. At the end of the study two focusgroup sessions will be
organized. One with care professionals and one with clients of the somatic
units.

The incosense Smart consists of a sensor, a notification system and a
dashboard.

Sensor: The sensor is to be attached to the outside of the Incontinence
material. The Incosense Smart is never in direct contact with the skin of the
client. By capacitive detection, meaning without direct contact with the wet
material, the sensor can measure the presence of fluids in the channels of the
incontinence materials. Based on this information the Incosense Smart can
determine whether material is saturated or not saturated. When material is
saturated the sensor will send a notification to the care professionals.

Attachment: The sensor will be attached by care professional at the front (the
outside), the highest point, of the incontinence material.

Dashboard: The dashboard is a tool to advise care professionals on the type and
size of the incontinence material that is recommended for a specific client.
This advise is based on historical saturation data. Based on an algorithm the
dashboard will advise whether lighter or heavier (higher absorption levels) is
needed for a specific client.

Risks are neglectable for clients and burden is small. At the moment the
IncoSense Smart is still in prototype phase. An independent organization
confirmed that the Incosense Smart is safe to use. In the upcoming year the
Incosense Smart will be CE marked. Clients will be asked to wear the sensor for
24hours a day for 9 weeks. Besides, clients from the unit de Mins (somatic) are
asked to participate in a focus group session (max 2 hours). If they prefer to
fill out the questionnaire on paper this is possible. If they prefer not to
participate in the focusgroup session/questionnaire this will be respected.