Using a Wearable-Based Animated Patient Avatar to Improve Patients' Perception of Vital Signs: Multicenter...

Visual patient avatars are an innovative patient monitoring technology that can be used to translate numerical and waveform data into intuitive, avatar-based representations of patient conditions. Previous research indicates that this technology improves health care providers' situational awareness compared to conventional monitoring methods. As patient-worn continuous vital sign monitoring continues to evolve, we introduce the Visual Patient Wearable device to provide avatar-based visualization tailored to this application.

This study aimed to evaluate whether a wearable-based animated patient avatar can improve patients' perception and recall of simulated vital sign deviations compared to conventional monitoring methods, and to assess the usability and acceptance of this avatar-based visualization.

This computer-based study included 67 patients from 3 academic hospitals in Central Europe. Participants were randomly assigned to a Visual Patient Wearable group or a conventional monitoring group and viewed a standardized instructional video for their allocated method. They then completed 4 randomized clinical scenarios, each displayed for 6 seconds to simulate glance-based assessment. Accuracy in recalling vital sign deviations was measured, and Visual Patient Wearable participants additionally gave user feedback on Likert scales.

The Visual Patient Wearable system was associated with higher detection accuracy of vital sign deviations compared with standard monitoring layouts, increasing from a median correctness of 46% (IQR 33%-63%) with conventional monitoring to a median of 67% (IQR 49%-79%) with the Visual Patient Wearable system (P<.001). This corresponded to a risk ratio of 1.34 (95% CI 1.23%-1.47%). The magnitude of this association varied across signals, with the largest relative improvement observed for heart rhythm (137% improvement, 95% CI 85%-209%), followed by oxygen saturation (SpO₂; 64% improvement, 95% CI 30%-108%) and temperature (30% improvement, 95% CI 5%-60%). No statistically significant reductions in risk were observed for heart rate, respiratory rate, or blood pressure. User experience ratings based on Likert scale assessments indicated high levels of satisfaction across all 6 vital sign categories (median score 4, IQR 4-5 on a 5-point scale).

This computer-based study suggests that Visual Patient Wearable visualizations enhance patients' ability to detect and recall simulated vital sign deviations. Participants found the system intuitive, easy to learn, and reassuring. The Visual Patient Wearable system provides an at-a-glance interface that may support patients' understanding of their vital signs and could facilitate communication of relevant information to clinical staff, thereby potentially contributing to informed patient engagement. The next step is to develop a software prototype for wearable devices and test it in a clinical study.