User Evaluation in the Absence of User Data with Platform Devices

With a circulation of 25,000, Medical Product Outsourcing is dedicated to the growing trend of medical device outsourced manufacturing across all industry segments, including cardiovascular, imaging, diagnostics and monitoring. About half of its readers work for medical device manufacturers, with the rest divided among contract manufacturing services, consultants, contract research organizations and government or educational organizations.

Human factors studies are essential to identify and eliminate any risks posed by drug delivery devices to the intended user. This, in turn, helps create user-centered designs that encourage patient adherence. In this article, our Human Factors Engineering Manager, Finola Austin, shares insights into the importance of having test participants that reflect real end-users of the device and how targeted testing creates confidence in the results and their applicability to the wider user population.