It's not only the pump: Assessment of human factors of wearable components and user experience of patients with left ventricular assist devices

It's not only the pump: Assessment of human factors of wearable components and user experience of patients with left ventricular assist devices

Despite design improvements in left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) over the past decade, limitations of external, wearable VAD components affect patient quality of life and safety. The aim of this study was to describe both user experience and human factor issues of 2 contemporary LVADs. This si...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of heart and lung transplantation Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 466 - 477
Main Authors: Schlöglhofer, Thomas, Grausenburger, Anna-Sophie, Widhalm, Gregor, Haberl, Lisa, Suda, Wolfgang, Schwingenschlögl, Harald, Riebandt, Julia, Laufer, Günther, Wiedemann, Dominik, Moscato, Francesco, Zimpfer, Daniel, Schima, Heinrich
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-04-2023
Subjects:
Aged
Cross-Sectional Studies
design
Female
Heart Failure - surgery
Heart-Assist Devices
human factors
human factors engineering
Humans
left ventricular assist device
Male
mechanical circulatory support
Middle Aged
Quality of Life
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
usability
Wearable Electronic Devices
wearables
human factors engineering
usability
human factors
design
mechanical circulatory support
wearables
left ventricular assist device
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Summary:Despite design improvements in left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) over the past decade, limitations of external, wearable VAD components affect patient quality of life and safety. The aim of this study was to describe both user experience and human factor issues of 2 contemporary LVADs. This single-center, cross-sectional study included LVAD outpatients who were at least 3 months after implantation. Before developing the 16-item survey, a systematic literature review and 2-round Delphi method involving 9 VAD clinicians were used to select items in 6 domains: power supply, emergency situations, wearability, mobility, and freedom to travel, user modifications, lifestyle, and home adaptations. Fifty-eight patients (61.6 ± 11.6 years, 13.8% female, HeartMate 3 (HM3)/HVAD: n = 39/19) completed the one-time survey after median of 853 days on device: 10.3% reported problems changing power supply, 12.7% unintentional driveline disconnection (HM3: 5.6% vs HVAD: 26.3%, p = 0.041). Against the recommendation 74.1% sleep with battery-support (HM3: 88.9% vs HVAD: 44.4%, p = 0.001). About 65.3% criticized the carry bag weight/size (HM3: 71.4% vs HVAD: 50.0%, p = 0.035), thus 24.1% wear an own carrying-system, 42.1% modified their wearables, 38.9% their clothing, and 65.3% their home to cope with life on LVAD support. Mobility is reduced due to limited wearability: 18.9% went abroad (only 3.7% by plane) and 40.0% use less public transport than before implantation (the older the less: r = −0.37, p = 0.013). HVAD and HM3 wearables still show a variety of human factors issues and potential for improved user experience. User-centered design and incorporation of patient feedback may increase user satisfaction, and patient safety. [Display omitted]
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ISSN:1053-2498
1557-3117
DOI:10.1016/j.healun.2022.12.015