Practical considerations

Calibration

What level of calibration is required?
What level of calibration is feasible? Consider population being tested and facilities available
Participant screening may be necessary to ensure health prior to exercise test
If individual calibration is to be undertaken using indirect calorimetry, which activities will most likely be performed by the volunteers while free living?
How will the flex point be decided on?

Participant instruction

How many days will the monitor be worn?
How are monitors going to be distributed and returned e.g. face-to-face, by mail?
Have sufficient instructions on placement and wearing and contact details been supplied?
Are participants going to be contacted by phone, SMS or email during the planned assessment to encourage compliance? Can incentives be used?
People may not be keen on wearing a chest strap and electrodes and the method may not be suitable for use in young children
People with sensitive skin may experience skin irritation when wearing electrodes, occasionally people may have an allergic reaction to electrodes
An open display on the wrist can influence behaviour especially at day one. Look at data from day one and see if it is very different from subsequent days and consider ignoring day 1.

Data handling