Hypothesis / aims of study
This study is based on 7,461 children’s data, aged between 3-16 and suffering from enuresis (involuntary loss of urine) condition. Persistent enuresis often becomes a problem once a child has reached 3 years of age and continues to experience involuntary loss of urine at least twice a week over three consecutive months. This common problem affects 12% of all 3-16-year-olds and can be both frustrating and embarrassing to children and parents [1]. Enuresis is about twice as common in boys than girls [1]. Root causes that can lead to enuresis include stress, genotype, hormonal imbalances or a large nightly urine production prompted by delayed cognitive and physical development. Being able to recognize the feeling of a full bladder is a learnt skill for children to become aware of. For some children this milestone can take longer than customary guidelines, causing them to involuntarily urinate during the day or in bed whilst asleep at night [1].
One solution to tackle involuntary urine loss in children is an enuresis alarm. This product helps train the child’s brain to recognize the body signals when the bladder is full and stay dry during the day or at night [2]. Based on this concept we developed an innovative non-invasive digital health enuresis solution called Oopsie Heroes Plus, including a tiny enuresis sensor and playful mobile device application. The Oopsie Heroes Plus enuresis sensor is different because it makes use of a safe, child-friendly and frequency-based sound emission signal (instead of harmful Bluetooth or other radio wireless signals) to communicate with the Oopsie Heroes application which functions as the alert module. The Oopsie Heroes Plus enuresis sensor is very small, thin (25x35x5mm) and comfortable. It does not require any special underwear and can be easily attached to all underwear or pyjama trousers using a sticker.
The aim of this study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of using the Oopsie Heroes Plus system to record data about enuresis. It is based on data collected through an anonymous database that helps record events such as when the alarm gently alerts the child and the parent after an enuresis event occurs.
The hypothesis of this study is that the Oopsie Heroes Plus can record accurate children data about enuresis. These insights may help provide a better understanding of the enuresis issues and eventually help children overcome from enuresis sooner.
Study design, materials and methods
Data from 7,461 children, aged between 3-16 (M=7,96 and SD=2,75) and suffering from enuresis issues was included. The children’s parents noted the child’s age and gender in the Oopsie Heroes application.
The sensor was attached to the underwear or pyjama trousers of the child (user) using a double-sided adhesive sticker. The application was activated, and the mobile device placed in the same room with the child. In case of an enuresis event, the Oopsie Heroes Plus sensor detected urine in the underwear using a sensitive impedance measurement and emitted a pulsating frequency sound which the application on the mobile device detected. As a result of an enuresis event, the mobile emitted within less then 5 seconds an interval alarm sound that alerted the child and the parent. The mobile alarm sound could be for example a pre-recorded parents voice.
Alongside, for the analysis of the enuresis events detailed data of app enuresis detection (start and stop) and enuresis events times from 55% (n=4108) of the users was collected over a period of maximum three months from the date the user installed the Oopsie Heroes application. See Figure 2. The data collection period depended upon how soon the child was dry for a consecutive period of two weeks. Data about the age, demographics and enuresis events time and date were automatically collected by the application. Data was automatically uploaded to our database and stored anonymously.
Interpretation of results
The global data indicates that the average age at which users try an enuresis alarm is approximately 8 years old, and there is an almost equal divide amongst of 6 and 7-year-olds using the enuresis alarm solution Oopsie Heroes Plus. The gender division of (62% boys, 38% girls) correlates with research indicating a 2/3 vs. 1/3 division between boys and girls [1]. However, at an older age the division gap becomes smaller. According to the data collected most of our users are using Oopsie Heroes Plus as a bedwetting alarm and activate the system (enuresis detection start event) between 9-10 PM. See Figure 2.
Alongside, based on collected user feedback we see that after using the Oopsie Heroes Plus application and device children’s enuresis frequency events decreased. From this we conclude that children using an enuresis alarm can learn to control their bladder during the day or at night. This is in keeping with the current research [2].