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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to develop a method for evaluating accessibility of medical equipment for patients with disabilities.
The researchers reviewed videotapes of patient-participants with various physical and sensory disabilities using different types of medical equipment. For each of 11 videotapes, four observers independently identified and documented access and safety barriers, such as physical, sensory, cognitive, and environmental barriers. Inter-observer variability for identifying barrier presence was assessed with kappa statistics for pairs of observers.
A list of 10 access and safety barriers was developed through an iterative consensus process, which identified design features of medical equipment that presented difficulties for participants with disabilities. The list is useful for identifying and categorizing accessibility problems found in equipment. While reliability of barrier identification was substantial or moderate for some barriers, reconciliation of barrier events identified by multiple video observers is recommended for optimal results.
Applied ergonomics 12/2010; 42(1):178-83. · 1.11 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In a prior survey, patients with disabilities reported difficulty using many common types of medical equipment.
The purpose of this study was to conduct focus groups to explore in greater detail the most common difficulties mentioned by survey participants in order to identify critical issues related to accessibility and usability and to inform subsequent research.
Participants of eight focus groups discussed medical equipment accessibility and safety issues experienced when using or attempting to access four specific categories of medical devices: examination tables, imaging equipment, medical chairs, and weight scales. Content of the transcript of each focus group was categorized according to five major themes: safety issues, equipment issues, health care provider issues, patient issues, and environmental issues. The results were then aggregated.
The focus group participants reported that characteristics of the equipment's contact surfaces could cause difficulty and discomfort. Participants commented on lack of physical support for patients with disabilities to transfer their bodies onto and off the equipment and lack of support to achieve and maintain body positions while on the equipment. Wheelchair scales were reported as rarely available, and scales without voice output were inaccessible to blind individuals. Health care provider issues and patient issues are discussed in relation to the accessibility and safety of the equipment.
Some types of medical devices and technologies present substantial barriers for some medical patients with disabilities, which may negatively affect their access to health care. Recommendations for improved designs are provided to enhance medical equipment accessibility and safety.
Disability and Health Journal 10/2009; 2(4):169-179.e1. · 0.98 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose was to evaluate accessibility of typical radiology platforms by participants with mobility disabilities.
These patients have difficulty using radiology equipment and have an increased risk of falling.
This field study evaluated three common types of radiology platforms - X ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, and fluoroscopy - by 20 patients/participants with mobility impairments who used walking aids. The participants were required to get onto the equipment, simulate a typical radiological procedure, and get off. Each participant then watched a video of his or her own session and answered questions. Four researchers independently reviewed the videotapes and identified accessibility and safety barriers.
Overall, the CT scan platform was the easiest to use and the fluoroscopy platform the most difficult, primarily because of platform height differences. Sitting up on the Xray table was rated as difficult by most participants, primarily because of a lack of hand-holds and the surface pad not being fixed in place. Maintaining a position on the fluoroscopy platform while it rotated from horizontal to vertical was difficult and frightening for most participants.
Some radiology platforms are difficult to use and are perceived to be less safe for patients with mobility disabilities. The interaction of patient disability and equipment design can impose substantial physical demands on medical personnel. Recommendations for improved design are provided to enhance radiology platform accessibility and safety.
The findings may be applicable to the design of a wide range of medical patient platforms.
Human Factors The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 11/2008; 50(5):801-10. · 1.19 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The Mobile Usability Lab (MU-Lab) is a tool developed by the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Accessible Medical Instrumentation (RERC-AMI) to study the accessibility and usability of medical devices by people with diverse abilities. The system includes a suite of data collection hardware components and a custom software interface to help coordinate problem identification and planning as well as data collection and analysis for usability and accessibility research of medical devices. Hardware components include a laptop computer, data acquisition card, video cameras, quad video processor and wireless microphones. Software components include a customized Web-based usability suite, real-time data collection package and several video editing and data analysis tools.
Conference proceedings: ... Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Conference 02/2004; 7:4920-3.
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ABSTRACT: The RERC on Accessible Medical Instrumentation evaluates and develops methods and technologies to increase accessibility and usability of diagnostic, therapeutic, and procedural healthcare equipment, and associated assistive technologies, for people with disabilities. This paper outlines the methods employed in creating the national survey designed to assess difficulties people with disabilities have experienced as patients using medical instrumentation for healthcare, describes strategies employed to recruit a diverse national sample, and presents preliminary results from the survey.
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ABSTRACT: The Mobile Usability Lab (MU-Lab) is a tool being developed by the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Accessible Medical Instrumentation (RERC-AMI) to study the usability of targeted medical devices by individuals with diverse abilities. The system integrates data collection hardware and software, and provides a Protocol Manager that helps facilitate problem identification, planning, data collection and data analysis across the continuum of the medical instrumentation analysis process. Two full systems are being implemented and evaluated, one based at Marquette University and one at the University of California Ergonomics Laboratory.
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ABSTRACT: The RERC on Accessible Medical Instrumentation evaluates and develops methods and technologies to increase accessibility and usability of diagnostic, therapeutic, and procedural healthcare equipment, and associated assistive technologies, for people with disabilities. This paper outlines the Delphi approach used to develop a national consumer survey aimed at identifying key types of medical instrumentation that present problems for individuals with a wide array of disabilities. The iterative nature of the Delphi technique allowed for feedback from 30 key informants/experts with disabilities and provided a framework for further refinement of the survey. Some medical instrumentation identified in the national survey will be targeted for modification in future research and development activities of this RERC.
