Presentation
MDD7 - Dialing in the Right Design: Insights from an Online Study of Pen Injector Dose Dials
DescriptionABBREVIATED SUMMARY
The introduction of dose dials is counted among the most significant developments in pen-injector design. Dose selection is a prerequisite for accurate delivery of medicinal products, and users consider ease of selecting the correct dose as one of the most important characteristics when choosing diabetes treatments. Many pen-injectors enable users to vary the dose by twisting a dial and the selected dose is presented on an analogue scale drum. To select the desired dose, the user rotates the dial to line up the value on the scale with a fiducial mark on the pen.
A large body of published work has explored how different pen injector designs affect safety and effectiveness. However, despite the importance of dose selection for accurate delivery of medicinal products, publications on the design of dose dials remain scarce. Twisting might be accompanied by auditory and tactile feedback (e.g., clicks), but visual inspection is necessary to confirm selection of the desired dose. The scale resolution must accommodate selection of all possible doses. However, it is not always possible to represent all doses numerically on the scale, and users might need to rely on markings between numbers. To ensure safe and effective use of pen-injectors, it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of how scale drum designs affect readability (i.e., the ability to clearly read and interpret parameters).
This presentation details insights from an online user study exploring how the readability of doses displayed on scale drums is affected when (1) the scale is based on even or odd tens in increments of 20 (i.e., either 0, 20, 40, 60, etc. or 10, 30, 50, 70, etc.), and (2) the dose is represented by a numerical value or a line marking between two values. We introduce the key methods, materials, and findings of the study and discuss potential implications for design. Furthermore, we present reflections on the use of online surveys for HF evaluations of physical devices.
The introduction of dose dials is counted among the most significant developments in pen-injector design. Dose selection is a prerequisite for accurate delivery of medicinal products, and users consider ease of selecting the correct dose as one of the most important characteristics when choosing diabetes treatments. Many pen-injectors enable users to vary the dose by twisting a dial and the selected dose is presented on an analogue scale drum. To select the desired dose, the user rotates the dial to line up the value on the scale with a fiducial mark on the pen.
A large body of published work has explored how different pen injector designs affect safety and effectiveness. However, despite the importance of dose selection for accurate delivery of medicinal products, publications on the design of dose dials remain scarce. Twisting might be accompanied by auditory and tactile feedback (e.g., clicks), but visual inspection is necessary to confirm selection of the desired dose. The scale resolution must accommodate selection of all possible doses. However, it is not always possible to represent all doses numerically on the scale, and users might need to rely on markings between numbers. To ensure safe and effective use of pen-injectors, it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of how scale drum designs affect readability (i.e., the ability to clearly read and interpret parameters).
This presentation details insights from an online user study exploring how the readability of doses displayed on scale drums is affected when (1) the scale is based on even or odd tens in increments of 20 (i.e., either 0, 20, 40, 60, etc. or 10, 30, 50, 70, etc.), and (2) the dose is represented by a numerical value or a line marking between two values. We introduce the key methods, materials, and findings of the study and discuss potential implications for design. Furthermore, we present reflections on the use of online surveys for HF evaluations of physical devices.
Event Type
Poster Presentation
TimeMonday, March 254:45pm - 6:15pm CDT
LocationSalon C
Digital Health
Simulation and Education
Hospital Environments
Medical and Drug Delivery Devices
Patient Safety Research and Initiatives