As patients are being moved to own homes and required to manage their own illnesses to a larger degree than before, needs are growing in terms of contemplating new healthcare technology solutions that can detect, monitor and treat patients physically as well as support them psychologically during the course of their diseases.

The project "Chromalex - The Meditative Image" under the auspices of Patient@home brings these needs into focus.

Background

The project is based on the concept of "positive distraction", which is a relatively new and unexplored method that has the potential to soothe patients and create greater security during hospitalizations, outpatient visits or at home.

Via a TV screen a series of images is displayed in a constant flow. The images fade into each other and alternate continuously between nature pictures and abstract images. Colours, pictures and images change depending on the month, date and day of the week, ensuring constantly changing and moving screen displays.

Chromalex has been developed in connection with a project carried out at the cancer unit of Odense University Hospital. Here the personnel were looking for a changing environment that could act as a positive distraction for patients waiting for chemotherapy treatment. Chromalex has since been tested in a nursing home, where particularly people with dementia and aggressive behaviours experienced greater calm. Patient@home builds its further activities on these results.

Objectives and results

The purpose of integrating Chromalex in Patient@home is to further develop and test the pictures and images in relation to different target groups. The test is performed via a mobile screen to be used by patients when they need to be soothed or change their thoughts, making it more relaxing and enjoyable to be patient in own home.

Through a series of systematic studies within the healthcare sector, the project expects to achieve the following results:

• Identification of the patient groups that can benefit from Chromalex during treatment in their own homes
• Development and adaptation of Chromalex to selected groups of people - e.g. in relation to picture and image variations, colours and speed
• Clinical evidence that Chromalex has a soothing effect that creates value in the course of disease of selected patient groups.