User needs elicitation via analytic hierarchy process (AHP). A case study on a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner

Area of Science:

• Medical Device Engineering
• Health Technology Assessment
• Decision Analysis

Background:

• User needs elicitation is critical for medical device design and procurement.
• Qualitative methods often used for needs assessment present integration challenges in decision-making.
• This study applies the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to define user needs for a new CT scanner in a public hospital setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for structured user needs elicitation for a new CT scanner.
• To investigate how user needs priorities vary across different clinical scenarios and specializations.
• To provide a framework for informed decision-making in medical technology acquisition.

Main Methods:

• Developed a hierarchy of 12 CT scanner needs categorized into 4 groups using AHP.
• Administered a paper questionnaire to 5 senior clinicians across various specialties.
• Collected data within an Italian public hospital to assess relative priorities of user needs.

Main Results:

• Safety and performance were paramount, but user needs shifted based on the clinical context.
• For elective surgery, key needs included spatial resolution, processing software, radiation dose, patient monitoring, and contrast medium.
• For emergency situations, priorities were patient monitoring, radiation dose, contrast medium control, speed, and spatial resolution.

Conclusions:

• AHP provided an effective, analytical framework for eliciting and prioritizing user needs for medical devices.
• User needs for CT scanners were more influenced by the clinical scenario (elective vs. emergency) than by the clinician's specialization.
• This AHP methodology is recommended for practitioners involved in medical technology design and budget allocation decisions.