The goal of this observational feasibility study is to learn if patients can safely, acceptably, and effectively collect their own wound swabs at home to detect clinically significant organisms in adults aged 18 and over who have had cardiac surgery via median sternotomy (central chest wound). Participants will be recruited from two sites: Harefield Hospital (Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London) and the Royal Sussex County Hospital (University Hospitals Sussex, Brighton). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can home-based patient self-swabbing of surgical wounds provide swabs of sufficient quality for microbiological testing? * Is self-swabbing at home safe and acceptable to patients following cardiac surgery? * Could this approach be a cost-effective way to monitor for surgical wound infections? Participants will: * Receive a co-designed self-swabbing instruction pack, created in collaboration with a patient and public working group and clinical experts. * Be observed via Microsoft Teams by a research practitioner while self-swabbing (or having their carer do so) to assess usability and adherence to instructions. * Participate in a brief interview to share their experiences and feedback on the instructions and swabbing process. * Send completed swabs to the hospital laboratory for analysis to determine the usability and timeliness of the samples.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
Participants will perform self-swabbing of their surgical wound under observation by a research practitioner via secure video call.
Royal Sussex County Hospital
Brighton, United Kingdom
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGHarefield Hospital
Harefield, United Kingdom
RECRUITINGProportion of participants who successfully perform self-swabbing at home
The proportion of participants who successfully perform self-swabbing at home approximately two weeks post-discharge, with the swab sample delivered to the laboratory within 24 hours and deemed viable for laboratory analysis.
Time frame: months 7-11
Participant ratings on the acceptability of the swabbing process
assessed through participant interviews
Time frame: months 7-11
Adherence to the swabbing protocol
Number of participants who adhere to the swabbing protocol. Evaluated during observations conducted at the time of swabbing and during follow-up interview
Time frame: months 7-11
Adverse events during the swabbing process
Adverse events during the swabbing process evaluated during observations conducted at the time of swabbing and during follow-up interviews
Time frame: months 7-11
Participant ratings on the acceptability of the swabbing instructions
Acceptability of the swabbing instructions will be measured through participant interviews.
Time frame: Immediately after the self-swabbing process during participant interviews (months 7-11)
Participant ratings on the acceptability of the swabbing kit
Acceptability of the swabbing kit will be measured through participant interviews
Time frame: Immediately after the self-swabbing process during participant interviews (months 7-11)
Transport Time taken for swabs to reach the laboratory
Measured in hours, collected during laboratory processing
Time frame: months 7-11
Number of usable swabs (viable for analysis)
Measured during laboratory processing
Time frame: months 7-11
Recruitment and retention rates
To be measured continuously during the trial to inform the design of a larger trial
Time frame: months 7-11
Patient demographics distribution
To be measured continuously during the trial to inform the design of a larger trial
Time frame: months 7-11
New swabbing at home pathway
Time frame: months 7-11
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