Device Functionalities and Technology Acceptance for Innovations in Neonatal Ventilation and Enhanced, Immediate...

A substantial number of newborns face postdelivery respiratory issues annually. Current ventilation devices in immediate newborn care lack integrated sensors and supporting mechanisms for medical professionals. This is a potential field of improvement, as safe ventilation relies on accurate pressure administration in current t-piece resuscitators. As the needed support during the process is currently limited, it highlights the demand for innovations in neonatal ventilation technology to improve efficacy and reduce potential errors.

The objective of the study was to facilitate collaboration between medical and engineering experts to evaluate the critical factors for the successful implementation of an innovative ventilation technology in clinical immediate newborn care. Incorporating the views of medical professionals into the survey is expected to offer valuable insights to engineers for subsequent technological refinement.

An international multicenter online survey was conducted among 51 neonatal health care professionals in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) in order to (1) assess the specific functionalities required in a neonatal ventilation assistant in immediate newborn care from a medical technology viewpoint, (2) characterize the acceptance of such a device as support tool using the extended technology acceptance model, and (3) identify further steps toward integration of such technologies.

According to the results, a visual representation of the current mask leakage and tidal volume is an essential feature. Integrating alarms in visual rather than audible form when limit values are exceeded is preferable. In contrast, medical professionals ranked an external control using a foot pedal as the least necessary feature. Based on the findings, acceptance constructs of the neonatal ventilation technology were moderately scored. Perceived usefulness (β=.76, P<.001) was the main predictor of the behavioral intention to use such a supportive instrument.

There is an evident willingness to integrate sophisticated support techniques into a neonatal ventilation device for immediate newborn care.