There is no known cure for Motor Neuron Disease (MND). Most people die within two to four years due to weakness of the muscles that control breathing.
A breathing machine, non-invasive ventilation (NIV), is vital and the most efficient treatment for people with MND to live longer and maintain a better quality of life. However, many patients find it challenging to use these machines effectively at home.
Led by the CTRU in partnership with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the £1.7 million DENIM trial (Delivering Effective Non-Invasive Ventilation in MND) is investigating the impact of remote monitoring for MND patients across 12 hospitals in the UK.
Remote monitoring enables clinical teams to see in real time whether patients are using their breathing machines. They can address problems immediately, without patients needing to travel to the hospital, as this can become increasingly difficult and time-consuming as their condition progresses.
The study aims to answer two critical questions: Does remote monitoring help MND patients, and how can the NHS successfully deliver this new remote monitoring service?
By studying both the patient impact and the implementation process, the research team is contributing to the evidence base needed to support NHS services: its shift to a more digital system, cutting unnecessary patient travel, and ensuring this beneficial technology reaches every MND patient who needs it and wants to use it.
The study aligns with a wider governmental goal, a part of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, to bring health technologies closer to patients and ensure more convenient home-based care.
The DENIM trial is funded by the NIHR. The Chief Investigator is Dr Esther Hobson, Senior Lecturer in Neurology at the University of Sheffield and Honorary Consultant Neurologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust.