To develop evidence-based digital health technologies which promote self-management and improve outcomes of mental health problems.
Affigo CIC is a Manchester-based social enterprise company established in December 2015. A team of clinicians, University of Manchester academics and software engineers, we work closely with mental health service users to develop innovative digital technologies which we test in the health service to ensure they are safe, acceptable and helpful.
The ClinTouch app has been developed in partnership with service users, caregivers, clinicians and the public. Throughout development Affigo worked with a service user advisory group to get a range of opinions as to how our technology can best serve service users and the community.
CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH
ClinTouch was first developed in 2009 in SMS and Android smartphone formats. It was expanded using “experience-driven design” with further functionality, beta testing, field trials and the first randomised trials. People with severe mental illness (psychosis, schizophrenia, for whom the app was developed) were involved in all aspects of development.
In 2012, a second MRC grant allowed the development of remote monitoring. This system allowed the care coordinators and clinical teams to receive real time information on a service user, as well as alerts if a service user showed personalised early warning signs for relapse, allowing for early intervention.
The ClinTouch app has also been used in a variety of clinical studies and was well received by service users. An in-depth randomised, controlled trial was conducted with 81 service users from across two NHS Mental Health Trusts in Manchester and South London to examine the benefit of the ClinTouch-Integrated management system over routine care over a 3-month period.
About 45% of eligible service users offered use of the app took it up – so it is not for everyone. Of those who chose to use it, a high level of adherence (90%) over at least three months was recorded, and participants with recent-onset of psychotic symptoms showed an improvement in symptoms when using the app.
Qualitative studies have been undertaken to assess service users’ views. On the whole, service users felt that is was a relevant platform for health care delivery and was a good way of “moving with the times”.
UPDATES
From time to time we may automatically update the ClinTouch App to improve performance, enhance functionality, reflect changes to the operating system, or address security issues.
Depending on the update, you may not be able to use the ClinTouch App until you have downloaded the latest available update. If you choose not to install updates or opt out of automatic updates, you may not be able to continue using the ClinTouch App, or if you do continue using the ClinTouch App, you may find that its functionality and/or performance is impaired.
If you find any problems with the app, or have any feedback, please contact support@affigo.io We will aim to fix any critical bugs within 72 hours on regular working weeks
To empower people to monitor and manage their own health
We set up a Social Enterprise Company because we believe this approach will deliver the biggest gain for helping with mental health problems. Rather than limit our products for use within an academic setting, we want to improve our ability to make our products available beyond the research context. That’s why we set up a social enterprise company, to ensure that we can support further research and develop new products that enhance the ClinTouch technology so that it can help people with long-term and enduring health problems.
ClinTouch is both a platform technology and a stand-alone app that helps people with psychosis self-manage their symptoms. It is based around a Smartphone app developed by a team of service users, leading clinicians and academics, software engineers and health professionals at The University of Manchester and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. ClinTouch is built around a Smartphone application which triggers, collects and wirelessly uploads symptom data in real-time to a central server at the clinical team base. The provision of diary entries encourages service users to record information relevant to how they are feeling, allowing for greater contextualization of data, leading to more informed discussions between service user and healthcare professional. Graphical information highlighting general mood and behavioor patterns allows the service users and clinicians to track their progress and understand their experiences more clearly.
ClinTouch Integrated As well as a stand-alone app, ClinTouch Integrated offers complete mobile support technology for people with psychosis and their clinical team. ClinTouch Integrated can be fully or partially integrated with your NHS Trust or service provider ICT systems depending on your needs.
ClinTouch is adaptable to all mental and physical long-term conditions that have fluctuating symptoms. For instance, it has been adapted for use in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Post Natal Depression.
ClinTouch is both a stand alone app and end-to-end clinical management system (ClinTouch Integrated) aimed at predicting and averting relapse in psychosis.
ClinTouch works as a personalised Smartphone app that triggers the collection of real-time symptom data from a mobile handset touchscreen that wirelessly uploads data to a secure central server several times daily.
Starting in 2013, we have built ClinTouch into an end-to-end system in community mental health teams in Manchester and South London so that summary data and personalised early warning alerts for relapse are available for healthcare staff. Summary data are viewed by healthcare professionals and a are streamed into e-care records.
Our training package provides the latest training for recognition of early warning signs of psychosis, implementation of the ClinTouch system into routine service delivery and technical support.
Professor Shôn Lewis is Professor of Adult Psychiatry at The University of Manchester, UK and a consultant psychiatrist with Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust. He is an internationally leading researcher and clinician in severe mental health problems, with over 200 published academic papers. Professor Lewis represents Affigo.io in face-to-face meetings with potential customers. He is the head of Affigo.io research and funding opportunities.
John Ainsworth is Professor of Informatics at the University of Manchester. He has wide experience in the Industry sector as well as in academia. He is Deputy Director of the MRC-funded Health e-Research Centre (HERC). Prof Ainsworth is Affigo’s head of software engineering operations and oversees management of the company.
Sandra Bucci is Professor of Clinical Psychology at The University of Manchester. She is an honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Prof Bucci is an internationally-leading researcher in psychological interventions for psychosis and has worked around the world as a practicing Clinical Psychologist and clinical academic, with nearly 20 years experience in mental health.
Charlotte Stockton-Powdrell has wide experience of health research governance and regulatory issues and managing clinical trials. She is a qualified PRINCE 2 Project Manager and Affigo.io company secretary. Charlotte is responsible for administrative tasks and the day to day running of Affigo.io and is the central point of contact for potential customers.
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