Skip to main content

Table 1 Most cited product characteristics, for a TS medical device

From: Defining and characterizing task-shifting medical devices

Counts Characteristic Example responses
64 Easy to use • “Easy to use”
• “Simple”; “simple procedure in operation”; “simple to use”
• “User friendly”
49 Safe • “Safe”; “error proof”
30 Low-cost • “Cheap, low-cost”
• “Cost efficiency”
29 Contextually appropriate and acceptable • “Acceptable to staff and patients”
• “Able to be discarded without damage to local environment”
• “Have instructions in local language”
• “Similarity to other devices used in that environment”
• “Locally made”; “locally serviceable”; “locally available material and fits into local system”
27 Effective • “Improves outcome consistently and safely”
• “Accurate”
• “Useful, dependable”
26 Maintainable • “Easy to maintain / clean”
25 Uses an alternative power source • “Renewable source of energy”
• “Battery operated”
• “Should be powered both mechanically and manually”
23 Easy to understand • “Intuitive to operate (does not require detailed instructions to learn to use it)”
• “Easy to understand for everyone”; “widely accessible”; “self-explanatory”
• “Have some form of instructions on how to use them (labels, stickers, engravings, etc.)”
• “Clear and simple instructions for use”
21 Easy to learn • “Easy to learn how to use (training is less than a day)”
• “Easy to teach on a peer-to-peer basis”
• “Adequate training of users and retraining”
• “Minimal instruction needed (if any)”
17 Easy to manage life-cycle • “If reusable, device is easy to clean or prepare for next patient”
• “Should not require complex assembling”
• “Easy to dispose of”
17 Portable • “Mobile”
• “Easy to transport”
Back to article page

Globalization and Health

ISSN: 1744-8603