CompletedNot Applicable

Exploring if Patients Can Safely and Easily Swab Their Own Surgical Wounds at Home

United Kingdom43 participantsStarted 2026-01-06

Plain-language summary

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.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Feasibility Study * Cardiac surgery ≥18 years old patients with a central chest wound, where the wound is a closed wound - assessed by the research nurse * Patients having elective or urgent surgery * Patients who have been discharged home or to a care home * Willing and able to provide written informed consent prior to participation in the clinical investigation. * Willing and able to comply with all study related procedures, with or without digital resource/internet access. Exclusion Criteria: * Feasibility Study * Cardiac surgery patients with open wounds extending beyond skin level, or where deep tissue, organs or implants are visible, wounds with constant or heavy discharge of fluid, wounds leaking pus at the time of the video consultation. * Patients having emergency or salvage surgery * Patients still in hospital * Patients with a dressing covering their wound at the time of the video consultation. * Congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, bone marrow disease, diabetes, autoimmune conditions requiring immunosuppressive treatment, any immunosuppressive medication at the time of consent or within the last 4 weeks before consent. * Undergoing active cancer treatment at time of consent/ or planning to start cancer treatment within the study period or completed cancer treatment within the last 4 weeks of the study commencing. * Patients who lack capacity to consent

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Since this trial is already completed, is there any published data or results I could review to understand how well patients managed to swab their own wounds at home after cardiac surgery?
2Given that this study was focused on whether self-swabbing is safe and practical rather than testing a new treatment, does the evidence from this kind of trial actually change how my post-surgical wound monitoring would be managed in my own care plan?
3The trial tracked adverse events during self-swabbing — were there any reported complications or difficulties that I should be aware of before considering anything like this for my own recovery?
4Would self-monitoring of a surgical wound at home be appropriate for my specific situation after cardiac surgery, or is my case better suited to in-person wound checks with the care team?
5If self-swabbing becomes a standard recommendation based on studies like this one, how would my doctor or nurse make sure I was doing it correctly and knew when to seek immediate help for signs of infection?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Proportion of participants who successfully perform self-swabbing at home

Timeframe: months 7-11

Participant ratings on the acceptability of the swabbing process

Timeframe: months 7-11

Adherence to the swabbing protocol

Timeframe: months 7-11

Adverse events during the swabbing process

Timeframe: months 7-11

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07200401

SponsorGuy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-06-02

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Cardiac Surgery trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

What they're measuring

Proportion of participants who successfully perform self-swabbing at home

Timeframe: months 7-11

Participant ratings on the acceptability of the swabbing process

Timeframe: months 7-11

Adherence to the swabbing protocol

Timeframe: months 7-11

Adverse events during the swabbing process

Timeframe: months 7-11