Date of Award
Fall 2005
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biomedical Engineering
First Advisor
Winters, Jack M.
Second Advisor
Marklin, Richard W.
Third Advisor
Smith, Roger O.
Abstract
Accessible medical instrumentation is essential for providing efficient, effective, and safe healthcare services, yet many devices are inaccessible to individuals with disabilities. Today nearly 20% of people over age five in the United States (U.S.) have some type of disability or lasting condition [U.S. Census, 2000], and most of these individuals require access to healthcare services. This thesis focuses on using three different tools to identify and analyze biomechanical accessibility of commonly used medical devices for individuals with various disabilities. This thesis is a qualitative study designed to document detailed information about different accessibility evaluation tools. The following specific aims are addressed in this thesis project: 1) Evaluate and improve the Mobile Usability Lab (MU-Lab) tool while using it to evaluate biomechanical accessibility of representative examples of classes of medical devices known to be problematic for consumers with various disabilities. 2) Document expert opinions of three alternative tools developed by Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Accessible Medical Instrumentation (RERC-AMI) teams that included this thesis author, which are designed to investigate medical device accessibility for individuals with disabilities (i .e., the Mobile Usability Lab Protocol Manager (MU-Lab PM) pre-and post-activity questionnaires, MU-Lab video analyses with Multimedia Video Task Analysis (MVT A) software, and the Medical Equipment Device Accessibility and Universal Design Information Tool (MED-AUDIT)). Usability testing with 9 devices (i.e., examination table, 2 dental chairs, 2 hospital beds, 2 weight scales) was conducted by 12 participants with diverse disabilities. Barrier and task analyses documented several device inadequacies and difficulties with effectively using assistive technologies with the devices. MVTA analyses indicated transferring and positioning tasks caused the greatest number of participants difficulties, with 65 and 48 participants having difficulties across devices, respectively. Transferring and positioning tasks also were impossible for the largest number of participants, with 16 participants finding each of these tasks impossible across devices. Use of the MU-Lab was found to provide thorough and systematic guidance to the researcher for developing accessibility analysis protocols. This tool has been shown valuable for evaluating medical device accessibility, across several different product types. The second study provided experts analyzed data in reduced form for "patient" users from the aforementioned usability testing. Overall, experts indicated that each tool is useful and beneficial for one or more stages of assessing medical device accessibility for individuals with disabilities, while using the tools together is likely the best solution. Specific suggestions are provided for each.
Recommended Citation
Lemke, Melissa R., "The Evaluation of Three Alternative Methods for Understanding Biomechanical Aspects of Medical Device Accessibility: Mobile Usability Lab Pre- and Post-Activity Questionnaires, Mobile Usability Lab Video Analysis with Multimedia Video Task Analysis, and Medical Equipment Device-Accessibility and Universal Design Information Tool" (2005). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 4991.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/4991