Feasibility and Acceptability of Wearable Sensor Use for Stress Monitoring in Korean-American Dementia Home Care Workers

This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of Ōura, a finger-worn sensor used to monitor heart rate variability (HRV) as a digital biomarker of stress among Korean-American home care workers caring for Korean-American individuals with dementia. This prospective, single-cohort study included 15 home care workers who wore Ōura for 21 days, with HRV data collected over a 14-day analysis period. Feasibility and acceptability were evaluated through quantitative and qualitative approaches. All participants were female, with a median age of 61 years, and each cared for a median of 1 Korean-American individual with dementia (range: 1 to 3 care recipients). We achieved an 88.24% retention rate and a 100% completion rate. Of the 210 potential daily HRV data points, 94.2% were valid. Participants reported high ease of use and comfort wearing the ring. Qualitative findings revealed themes of enhanced health awareness, variability in comfort and fit, and a need for more information about the health data provided by the ring application. The findings demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of using a finger-worn sensor in Korean-American home care workers. Future studies should address data validity issues and explore the clinical utility of HRV monitoring via finger-worn sensors for stress management in this understudied population.