Nephrologists’ perspectives on the designs of mobile hemodialysis devices: A mixed methods approach

Abstract

Early and iterative involvement of users in the designs of medical devices helps improve safety, enhance users' positive experiences, and reduce the risk of use error. Although notable technological progress has been made toward mobilizing hemodialysis devices, understanding users' perspectives is still in its infancy. To understand various perspectives of mobile hemodialysis device users, we aim to gather nephrologists’ perspectives on the early designs of two mobile hemodialysis devices: a wearable and a portable hemodialysis device, continuing our previous exploration to understand patients’, care partners’, and nephrology nurses’ perspectives. Using a mixed-methods approach of conducting questionnaires and semi-structured virtual interviews, we report the perspectives of 30 nephrologists on mobile hemodialysis treatments compared with current in-center and home hemodialysis treatments. We also report their perspectives on potential benefits and barriers to recommending such devices, and ideal features to be included in the device’s designs. The findings from this study help guide the design processes of mobile hemodialysis devices towards the goal of earning nephrologists’ acceptance and ultimately facilitating the recommendation and implementation of mobile hemodialysis devices for patients.