Wearable ECG patch monitoring for people receiving end-of-life cancer care
Official title: Remote Vital Sign Monitoring in Palliative Care - VITAL-PC
Run by Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services · NCT07512505 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This tests whether a small wearable ECG patch can remotely track vital signs for people with advanced cancer in hospice to help spot infections, relate symptoms to physiology, and improve estimates of how long someone may have to live.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 120 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Dublin) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 6, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 6, 2026 |
| Study ends | October 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | April 6, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07512505 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (18+) with a primary diagnosis of cancer who are admitted for end-of-life care in the hospice, have an estimated prognosis under 14 days, and can give informed consent are the intended participants.
✕Probably not a fit
People with non-malignant diagnoses, those unable to provide informed consent, or those with chest skin problems or adhesive allergies would not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit from this monitoring.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational project places a small, adhesive, patch-like ECG device on the chests of adults with advanced cancer admitted to a hospice palliative care unit in Dublin and collects continuous vital-sign data while they remain in hospice. Research staff will check device function remotely, replace batteries as needed (about every 14 days), and perform in-person reviews within 24 hours and periodically thereafter, while nursing staff check patch adhesion daily. The clinical team will not have access to the device data for making care decisions; the data are collected for research purposes only. The work aims to see if remote vital-sign trends can identify infections or other reversible problems earlier, improve short-term prognostication, and clarify how pain and other symptoms relate to physiological changes at the end of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could allow earlier detection of treatable problems, provide better-informed prognoses, and improve understanding of how symptoms relate to vital signs for patients at the end of life.
How similar studies have gone: Wearable vital-sign monitoring has shown feasibility and clinical value in other patient groups, but its specific use in hospice end-of-life cancer care is relatively untested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years old * Primary diagnosis of malignant disease * Admitted for end-of-life care (or focus of care changed to end-of-life care) * Estimated prognosis \< 14 days Exclusion Criteria: * Primary diagnosis of non-malignant disease * Inability to provide informed consent * Contraindications to use of biosensor adhesive patch (e.g. chest wall skin problem, allergy to adhesive)
Where it's running
-
Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services
Dublin, Ireland Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Hailey Goffinet, MSN
- Email: hgoffinet@olh.ie
- Phone: +353 014982537
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.