Project 799 | SHAPE-BP: Shaping Wearable Blood Pressure Monitoring in Primary Care Through Public Involvement

One in three adults in the UK has high blood pressure. This is usually managed by healthcare professionals in primary care but if not well controlled, can lead to serious health problems like heart attacks and strokes.
New technology, including wristbands or rings, can now measure blood pressure. These devices, called “wearables”, can take readings many times throughout the day without the person having to do anything. The NHS plans to use wearables more widely for blood pressure care by 2028, so patients and healthcare professionals are likely to see them used more often.
Although wearables may offer benefits, by showing patterns over time or helping people feel more in control, there are still many unanswered questions. No clear guidance exists for healthcare professionals on how to use wearable blood pressure data, how to make sense of large numbers of readings, or how to support patients using wearables. Some people may find wearables confusing or worrying, while others may not be able to afford them or feel confident using the technology, risking widening health inequalities.

What is the aim?
To set up an inclusive patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) group to shape a research programme on using wearables for blood pressure management in primary care.
Through group discussion, we want to:
1. understand people’s real-life experiences, concerns and expectations about using wearables for blood pressure management;
2. identify what matters most to patients to guide future research and funding applications;
3. co-produce clear, accessible materials to support inclusive research design, recruitment and analysis.

What will we do?
We will ask people with lived experience of high blood pressure, including those often under-represented in research, such as older adults, people with multiple long-term conditions, and those facing digital, geographic or social barriers to join our advisory group to inform our research on wearables.
The group will take part in up to three discussion sessions, held online or in a hybrid format to support inclusion. Discussions will focus on how wearables feel to use, what people like or worry about, issues of trust and access, and how data could realistically be used in primary care. A patient bridge role will be used where helpful to support understanding, confidence and participation.
Public contributors will work alongside researchers to shape future research questions, advise on recruitment, support interpretation of findings, and help create clear and accessible research materials and outputs.