Groundbreaking research study seeks older people in Dublin with chronic health conditions

Researchers from Trinity College Dublin and Dundalk Institute of Technology, in partnership with Home Instead and Caredoc, have launched an EU funded project called SEURO.  

The project aims to support older people with multiple chronic health conditions to better self-manage their health and wellbeing at home using technology.

Researchers would like to speak to people in Dublin with an interest in taking part in the project.

To be eligible, a participant must be over the age of 65 and be living with two or more chronic health conditions.

The trial will explore how to best empower people to take more control of their health and wellbeing by using the technology at home with support, if needed, from their care and support network, for example, family members, informal and formal carers and healthcare professionals.

Outcomes from the trial will also be used to examine if the technology can help improve the quality of life for users and how they use healthcare services.

Participants don’t need to be familiar with computers as they will be supported throughout the trial by trained researchers.

The SEURO project is being coordinated by Dr John Dinsmore of Trinity College Dublin and involves 12 partners across five EU member states (Ireland, Belgium, Italy, Sweden and Austria).

This exciting project brings together a consortium of academic and research institutions, small to medium-sized enterprises, health service providers, EU networks and multinational corporations.

Dr Julie Doyle, Director, Netwell CASALA at Dundalk Institute of Technology who is leading the Irish trial site said: “SEURO uses a technology called ProACT that has great potential to help older people with multiple chronic conditions to better manage their health and wellbeing at home, but there has been limited research and trials to examine this.

“The SEURO trial will allow us to gather evidence to test whether this type of technology improves peoples’ health and wellbeing and why it does or does not.

“By participating in the SEURO trial, you will be making a significant contribution to this very exciting and much-needed area of research and if selected to test the technology, you may experience improvements in the management of your conditions.”

Those interested in taking part will be provided with more detailed information materials and all aspects of the study will be fully explained to them before being asked to consent to participate.

Participation is completely voluntary, and a person can choose not to take part or to withdraw from the study at any time.

If you, or someone you know, is over 65 and has two or more of the following chronic conditions – diabetes, COPD, asthma, heart failure or heart disease, and has not been diagnosed with dementia, the research team would like to hear from you.

For more information call 042 9370296, email seuro@dkit.ie or go to www.netwellcasala.org/seuro/