PATSy Perspectives on Antibiotics and Tracking Symptoms in Children - a Mixed Methods Feasibility Study

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating families' perspectives and decision-making about how long children aged 4 to 17 should take oral antibiotics for uncomplicated bacterial infections. This study focuses on children treated at the Royal Children's Hospital Emergency Department, either discharged with oral antibiotics or transferred to Hospital-in-the-Home for IV antibiotics before switching to oral therapy. The study also assesses how practical and acceptable it is to use a Garmin Smartwatch and the WeGuide platform to track children's symptoms during treatment. The study involves all eligible participants completing daily symptom questionnaires throughout their antibiotic course, a one-time survey about views on antibiotic duration, and two short follow-up questionnaires on days 14 and 28 to record if antibiotics were restarted and to gather feedback on study procedures. A small group of about 60 participants will wear a Garmin Smartwatch during their antibiotic treatment to collect data on heart rate, skin temperature, sleep, and activity, which will be compared with parent-reported symptoms. Participants and their parents will be involved in completing surveys and, if selected, wearing the smartwatch while antibiotics are taken. Data collection occurs through the WeGuide platform, which manages enrollment, consent, and survey responses. Researchers will measure how often the smartwatch is worn, any issues reported with the device or questionnaires, and the agreement between smartwatch data and parent reports. The study will also track antibiotic use and symptom resolution up to 28 days after starting antibiotics. The total participation duration varies based on antibiotic course length and follow-up timing.

Perspectives on Antibiotics and Tracking Symptoms in Children