Usability and User Experience of Medical Devices – Insights from Laypersons and Healthcare Professionals

Abstract

Technological progress and the increasing use of medical technology are often linked to greater medical device complexity. Yet, increased complexity increases risks due to human error, which stresses the importance of usability. However, standard instruments used to assess medical device usability lack optimal construct representation. The present study addresses this important issue by identifying relevant dimensions and subfacets of usability and user experience (UX) in medical technology based on critical incidents and event reconstruction. We conducted two qualitative in-depth interview studies with professional users (N = 25, Study 1) and laypersons without any professional healthcare training (N = 25, Study 2). Additionally, we conducted a quantitative survey on main dimensions of usability and UX. We analyzed the interviews using qualitative content analysis. Results confirmed dimensions from existing literature but also revealed new dimensions; we thus propose an extended perspective on the use of medical technology through a category system of all relevant aspects. In addition, differences in the findings from Study 1 and 2 indicate a need for a more differentiated consideration based on the professional experience level of medical device users and use setting. Finally, we provide suggestions for an empirical validation of our proposed content-related clustering of categories as well as implications for future research.