User-Centered Design: Developing the RELI Delivery System - a Low-Cost, Non-Electric, Pneumatic Infusion Pump

Area of Science:

• Medical Devices
• Health Systems Research
• Global Health Engineering

Background:

• Infusion pumps are vital for intravenous therapy but are often inaccessible in low- and middle-income countries due to cost, complexity, and reliance on electricity.
• Challenges include limited availability, high costs, and inconsistent power supply, particularly in non-tertiary care facilities with high patient volumes and scarce resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To guide the development of the RELI Delivery System, a low-cost, non-electric infusion pump designed for resource-limited settings.
• To gather input from healthcare providers and decision-makers in Uganda to inform product design requirements and features.

Main Methods:

• A formative evaluation employing a mixed-methods approach.
• Data collection included focus group discussions, stakeholder interviews, and observations with end-users.

Main Results:

• Stakeholders provided crucial input on prototype design, safety criteria, and usage contexts for infusion pumps.
• A significant need exists for infusion systems in non-tertiary care hospitals facing resource scarcity and power inconsistencies.
• End-users emphasized the need for an affordable, simple device with an intuitive interface, clear instructions, and basic safety features.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully gathered essential guidance for refining the RELI infusion pump design.
• The findings underscore the critical need for robust, affordable infusion pumps tailored to the specific requirements of low-resource healthcare settings.