Usability Assessment of an Innovative Device in Infusion Therapy: A Mix-Method Approach Study

Pedro Parreira, Liliana B. Sousa, Inês A. Marques, Paulo Santos-Costa, Sara Cortez, Filipa Carneiro, Arménio Cruz and Anabela Salgueiro-Oliveira
Additional contact information
Pedro Parreira: Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA:E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), 3046-851 Coimbra, Portugal
Liliana B. Sousa: Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA:E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), 3046-851 Coimbra, Portugal
Inês A. Marques: Biophysics Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-354 Coimbra, Portugal
Paulo Santos-Costa: Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA:E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), 3046-851 Coimbra, Portugal
Sara Cortez: Muroplás-Plastic Engineering Industry, 4745-334 Muro, Portugal
Filipa Carneiro: PIEP—Innovation in Polymer Engineering, 4800-058 Braga, Portugal
Arménio Cruz: Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA:E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), 3046-851 Coimbra, Portugal
Anabela Salgueiro-Oliveira: Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA:E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), 3046-851 Coimbra, Portugal

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-13

Abstract: Background : Flushing a venous access device is an important procedure to maintain their patency and prevent malfunctioning and complications. An innovative double-chamber syringe was developed, allowing for the assessment of catheter patency, drug delivery and final flush. This study aims to assess the usability of this new device, considering three development stages (concept, semi-functional prototype, functional prototype). Methods: An iterative methodology based on a mix-method design (qualitative and quantitative) enabled the assessment of the devices’ usability by their primary end-users. A usability questionnaire was developed and applied, along with focus groups and individual interviews to nurses. Results: The usability questionnaire integrated 42 items focused on four dimensions (usefulness; ease of use; ease of learning; satisfaction and intention to use). The initial psychometric findings indicate a good internal consistency and the conceptual relevance of the items. The scores seem to be sensitive to the usability evaluation of the medical devices in different stages of product development (with lower values on functional prototype evaluation), and related to nurses’ perceptions about functional and ergonomic characteristics. Conclusions : Quantitative and qualitative data provided a comprehensive overview of the double-chamber syringes’ usability from the nurses’ point of view, informing us of features that must be addressed.

Keywords: usability; medical devices; double-chamber syringe (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:22:p:8335-:d:443178

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