Human Factors Considerations in Designing a Portable Dialysis Device: Understanding Patients’ and Care Partners’ Needs for Increased Mobility

Abstract

The objective of this study is to guide the designs of a portable dialysis device that allows patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) greater mobility and flexibility to travel. We gathered patients’ and care partners’ motivations behind their travels along with the barriers they experience when planning an overnight trip. Using a quantitative analysis approach for the open-ended questions along with rank-order of response frequencies, our findings indicate that the majority of the motivations behind participants travel is to visit their family and friends but the participants find themselves either completely hindered or experience significant challenges when planning overnight trips where the designs of current dialysis devices and or the logistics of planning or scheduling treatments in an unfamiliar dialysis center outweigh the enjoyment of traveling. Our results give an estimate of parameters for the largest acceptable size and weight of a portable dialysis device that meets users’ needs. The results of this study help provide the designers of a portable dialysis device with better-targeted solutions to design a device that comfortably supports patients’ mobility and freedom of travel.