Can smartphone technology improve ECG monitoring for patients prescribed antipsychotic medication ?
Abstract
Background and rationale
Article # 4
Title : Can smartphone technology improve ECG monitoring for patients prescribed antipsychotic medication ?
Author : Jacqueline Bailey
North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust
Keywords : ECG , QT Interval , SMI , Antipsychotics
DOI : https :// doi . org / 10.21252 / knj8-bn40
Can smartphone technology improve ECG monitoring for patients prescribed antipsychotic medication ?
Abstract
Patients with severe mental illness experience poorer health outcomes than the rest of the population which result in a significantly reduced life expectancy ( Viron and Stern , 2010 ). The cause of poor physical health in this group has been attributed to several factors including side effects of medication and inadequate monitoring of physical health ( McGuinness and Follan , 2016 ). It is known that electrocardiogram ( ECG ) monitoring for patients prescribed antipsychotic medicines is often not compliant with guidelines despite these drugs being known to cause prolonged QT intervals which can lead to a potentially fatal heart arrhythmia Torsades de Pointes ( Polcwiartek et al . 2016 ). New smartphone compatible technology has been developed that can take an ECG in 30 seconds from a fingertip reading . This paper provides the background to a project conducted by the ACP to explore whether the application of this technology can improve compliance for ECG monitoring for patients who are prescribed antipsychotic medication .
Background and rationale
This paper details an area for development identified by an Advanced Nurse Practitioner ( ACP ) working in a Community Mental Health Team for adults of working age . The pillars of advanced clinical practice are applied by appraising research relating to new technology that has been developed with a view to improving clinical practice and health outcomes for adults with severe mental illness .
It has long been known that patients with severe mental illness ( SMI ) experience poorer health outcomes for their physical health than the rest of the population . The impact of this is estimated to have reduced the life expectancy of these patients by 15-20 years ( Brown et al . 2010 ). The reason for this is thought to be multi-factorial and includes poor lifestyle choices , reduced access to healthcare and the impact of psychotropic medications on physical health ( Scott and Happell , 2011 ). Patients with SMI are more likely to smoke and to be inactive ; they are also less likely to