The PROMPT system: an innovation in peri-operative care

This project from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust introduced the Perioperative RemOte Monitoring of PaTients (PROMPT) system for patients scheduled to undergo cancer surgery within the Trust. The aim was to provide a technology-enabled specialist information portal to integrate services and coordinate care throughout the ‘before and after’ (peri-operative) period.

The initial phase of the project focused on delivering the PREPARE e-health platform. This tablet-based app provides coaching and tailored support in the areas of physical fitness, respiratory exercises, healthy eating, psychological wellbeing, medication, avoiding bad habits and enhanced recovery after treatment.

The app has so far been provided to 34 oesophagogastric cancer surgery patients. Positive feedback, obtained both informally and through interviews and a focus group, revealed that patients found the app beneficial and motivating. The informative videos and messaging function enabling contact with the hospital team were identified as being particularly useful.

However, less technologically able patients experienced difficulties with using the app and had a negative first impression of its usability. The project team addressed this by making adaptations to the app and amending protocols for patient registration. They are also planning to integrate an in-app interactive tutorial and provide materials in a variety of media.

Overall, the project team are pleased with the success the app has had in supporting patients. The next step is to implement home remote monitoring to allow patients’ vital signs, nutritional status and compliance to be tracked. Evaluation from this project will feed into the dissemination of PROMPT and PREPARE across the Trust, and eventually to multiple specialist centres in the UK.

Contact information

For more information about this project, please contact Venetia Wynter-Blyth, Lead Upper Gastrointestinal Clinical Nurse Specialist, St Marys Hospital.