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” |