Feasibility of temperature monitoring smart socks in adolescents and young adults with spina bifida

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine if the use of continuous temperature monitoring smart socks is feasible in adolescents with spina bifida (SB) by obtaining user feedback on comfort. METHODS: Participants were provided temperature monitoring socks and a 4 G hub. Follow-up phone calls were performed to answer questions or discuss barriers. Sock temperatures were monitored throughout four weeks. Following sock wear, participants were asked to complete a satisfaction survey. RESULTS: Seventeen of the 33 participants enrolled (eight males, nine females) with a mean age of 14.8 years completed the study. Average sock wear was 8.0 hours per day for four weeks. The mean temperature was 83.4°F with a mean temperature differential between feet of –0.74°F (left–right). The duration of sock wear varied from 14.6 to 595.9 hours over the four-week period. Lastly, eleven participants (84.6%) reported that the socks were comfortable and very easy to put on. CONCLUSION: Continuous temperature monitoring smart socks are an option for monitoring risk for developing pressure injuries in adolescents with SB. Future directions would include increasing sample size, obtaining normative data for temperature ranges in this population, and correlating to clinical outcomes.