Affiliations: [a] Department of Health Professions, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Bern, Switzerland | [b] Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland | [c] Department of Physiotherapy, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland | [d] Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland | [e] Department of Nursing, Insel Gruppe, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Kai-Uwe Schmitt, Academic-Practice-Partnership of the Bern University of Applied Sciences and Insel Gruppe (University Hospital Bern), Murtenstr. 10, 3008 Bern, Switzerland. Tel.: +41 31 848 37 10; E-mail: kai-uwe.schmitt@bfh.ch.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Early mobilization is important to improve critically ill patients’ outcomes, but barriers to its implementation are common. A suitable in-bed device to exercise patients’ legs might facilitate early mobilization. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop an in-bed leg press that would facilitate early mobilization and enhance strength training of patients in acute care settings. METHODS: A user-centered design approach was applied to develop the device. The process was assessed by different instruments: the system usability scale (SUS) questionnaire, the Kano model questionnaire and interviews with end-users. RESULTS: Through several iterations of a user-centered design process, the prototype of an in-bed leg press was developed and tested. The assessment, based on SUS, Kano and interviews, indicates high usability and demonstrates the advantages of a user-centered design process. CONCLUSIONS: An interprofessional user-centered design approach was successfully implemented to develop a medical device. The early involvement of end-users resulted in a design that already shows a high degree of production readiness. The resulting device fulfilled all core requirements from a therapeutic point of view and included key features related to its practical use.
Keywords: Early mobilization, rehabilitation, user-centered design, user involvement, leg exercise
