Wearable Sensor Technologies for Intraoperative Pressure Injury Prevention: A Scoping Review

This study aims to systematically map the global evidence landscape regarding wearable sensor technologies for intraoperative pressure injury (IPI) prevention, delineating clinical efficacy, implementation strategies, and critical research gaps. Objectives: Employing the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and adhering to PRISMA-ScR guidelines, this review will utilize a PCC framework (Population: surgical patients; Concept: wearable sensor technologies; Context: operating room environments to achieve the following aims: To categorize wearable sensor technologies by mechanistic principles (accelerometry-based position tracking versus interface pressure sensing versus multi-modal systems); To evaluate the impact of sensor-driven alerts and reminders on compliance with preventive intraoperative micro-movement protocols; To identify facilitators and barriers to technology adoption from the perspective of perioperative nursing staff and surgical teams; To appraise cost-effectiveness evidence and health economic implications of sensor-based prevention strategies; To formulate an evidence-based research agenda prioritizing understudied domains. Expected Outcomes: This scoping review will deliver: A Comprehensive Evidence Map: A visual and tabular synthesis delineating the distribution of evidence across sensor modalities, surgical populations, and outcome domains, identifying both evidence clusters (well-researched areas) and evidence gaps (under-researched areas) from 2016 to 2026; Clinical Effectiveness Profile: Summary metrics on IPI incidence reduction rates, micro-movement protocol compliance improvements, and pressure injury staging distributions associated with wearable sensor deployment; Implementation Science Insights: A thematic synthesis of barriers (e.g., alarm fatigue, sterility concerns, and device dislodgement) and facilitators (e.g., workflow integration and real-time feedback) critical for technology adoption in operating theaters. Health Economic Evidence: Compilation of cost-effectiveness ratios, hospital cost savings, and return-on-investment (ROI) calculations from available health technology assessments; Research Agenda: Prioritized recommendations for future primary research, including validation studies in high-risk surgical subpopulations (e.g., cardiac surgery, prone positioning), comparative effectiveness trials between sensor modalities, and hybrid implementation-effectiveness (type 2) studies. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication in international wound care or perioperative nursing journals (e.g., International Wound Journal, Journal of Clinical Nursing) and presented at relevant conferences (e.g., EWMA, NPIAP, AORN), providing evidence-based guidance for clinical guideline development, medical device procurement decisions, and strategic research investment.