ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Abstract: SA-PO923

Human Factors Testing of the Quanta SC+ Hemodialysis System: An Innovative System for Home and Clinic Use

Session Information

  • Dialysis: Home Hemodialysis
    October 27, 2018 | Location: Exhibit Hall, San Diego Convention Center
    Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Category: Dialysis

  • 702 Dialysis: Home Hemodialysis

Authors

  • Grainger, James, Quanta Dialysis Technologies, Alcester, United Kingdom
  • Harasemiw, Oksana, Chronic Disease Innovation Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  • Bond, David, Quanta Dialysis Technologies, Alcester, United Kingdom
  • Komenda, Paul, Chronic Disease Innovation Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  • Ferguson, Thomas W., Chronic Disease Innovation Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Background

Compared to traditional in-centre hemodialysis, home hemodialysis (HHD) is a more cost-effective option, offering patients more autonomy, better quality of life, and improved health outcomes. However, uptake rates of HHD are the lowest among all other modality types. Therefore, there is a need to develop efficient HHD systems that are user-friendly and appealing to patients. The SC+ Hemodialysis System developed by Quanta Dialysis Technologies for home and clinic use, provides patients with a compact, safe, and easy-to-use HHD system that minimizes the burden of traditional dialysis treatments, whilst providing equivalent dialysis adequacy.

Methods

As part of the design validation of the SC+, Human Factors Testing (HFT) was performed with 15 Home Users (patients and caregivers) and 17 Healthcare Professionals (nephrology nurses and healthcare assistants), to assess safety, performance, and ease of usability. The HFT involved a training session with each participant at Smethwick Dialysis Centre in Birmingham, United Kingdom, which was subsequently followed by a test session where participants independently performed 38 subtasks on the SC+. A detailed study protocol was used to critically evaluate each participant in a standardized manner.

Results

In aggregate, 1,171 from the 1,216 subtasks attempted between the two user groups were completed successfully. Overall, the Healthcare Professionals performed with a higher degree of use safety, with a task-specific success rate of 97.4%, compared to 95.1% in the Home Users (patient and caregiver) group. Healthcare Professionals encountered use errors in 0.9% of sub-tasks attempted. In contrast, 0.2% of subtasks attempted by home users resulted in a close call (they initially encountered a use error, but were able to self-correct), and 3.9% resulted in use errors. Due to circumstances unrelated to the study itself, 1.7% of subtasks attempted by healthcare professionals, and 0.9% by home users, were unperformed. No errors resulted in adverse events.

Conclusion

The SC+ Hemodialysis System was found to have minimal issues related to ease of usability by patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. The data from this usability study indicates that in the real world, a high degree of use safety will likely be achieved, resulting in an optimal user experience.

Funding

  • Commercial Support – Quanta Dialysis Technologies Ltd.