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First iteration of a User-Centered Design process to develop an in-bed leg press
Adrien Cerrito1, Juan Fang2, Simón Javier Gamero Schertenleib2
1Academic-Practice-Partnership between Bern University of Applied Sciences and Insel Gruppe, School of Health Professions, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Bern, Switzerland.
Summary
Hospitalized patients need exercise, but in-bed training devices face challenges. User-centered design identified key features like simplicity and portability, crucial for developing effective hospital exercise solutions.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
- Human Factors Engineering
Background:
- Physical inactivity is common in hospitalized patients, necessitating the use of daytime rest for exercise.
- Integrating new interventions into complex hospital routines requires a participatory approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore clinical settings and clinician perspectives on in-bed exercise for hospitalized patients.
- To assess the potential for developing an in-bed training device and define its development goals.
Main Methods:
- A User-Centered Design approach was utilized, including work shadowing and focus groups with nurses and physiotherapists.
- Content and network analyses were performed on focus group data, leading to the development of personas and clinical scenarios.
Main Results:
- Clinician views on in-bed exercise varied, with some seeing it as counterproductive and others as beneficial for unsupervised training.
- Essential design characteristics for an in-bed training device include small size, low weight, and ease of use.
- Scenarios indicated a potential 1.4% increase in physical activity time, alongside an increase in clinician working time.
Conclusions:
- Developing a usable in-bed training device presents significant challenges.
- The study encourages continued development, emphasizing adherence to the defined goals for usability and effectiveness.
