Printed Copies of “Instructions of Use”: What Nonsense!

I do not know about you, but when I unpack a given device, one thing that annoys me every time is the paper copy of the “Instructions for Use” (IFU). What I do with these booklets, which provides the same information in many different languages (at least in Europe), is that I throw them right away! Quite often, these are more heavy/voluminous than the product itself and generate a lot of additional waste. ¹ Even when the patient with diabetes (PwD) reads the given IFU when he or she uses the medical product for the first time, they are using the very same products all the time for years; there is no need for them to have a copy of the same IFU each time.

According to the Internet: “IFUs provide information by the manufacturer to inform the user about the device’s intended purpose, proper use, and any precautions. IFUs are used mainly in the medical field, specifically for prescription drugs and medical devices.” ² The basic idea is that such IFUs help the user to properly use the product safely and help protect companies from getting caught up in any legal hassles later.

It is clear that the user should be able to access and read the instructions, ie, there should be clear guidance on where to find the IFU easily and rapidly. In case a PwD wants more information, the preference is to watch a YouTube video or download the IFUs online from the homepage of the manufacturer. Not only does this save on paper, ink, labor, and added transport weight, other benefits are that the user will have access to the most recent version of the IFU, in the language of their choice, and has the ability to change the font size to accommodate their level of legibility.

If we aim to reduce waste production, associated with usage of diabetes technology by the ever-increasing number of PwDs, logical and easiest place to start to make a difference? Would it not be a solution to provide a small leaflet with a URL/QR code for a PDF of the UFI only (as in the case with many consumer products), or a QR code that can be scanned, on the label? A reduced weight and size of the packaging of the different medical products would pay off by a reduced CO₂ footprint. Some manufacturers are doing this now, eg, Insulet sells the Omnipod 5 without an IFU but with a one-pager with some basic information and a URL. ³ The European Union is currently considering allowing the use of Electronic IFUs for all professional-use devices. ⁴

In summary, why don’t more manufacturers of medical devices get rid of the IFU inserts and switch to a short leaflet only? The leaflet should also provide information about optimal waste handling/recycling of the given product and its packaging. Given the rapid increase in the number of users of continuous glucose monitor (CGM) systems, insulin pumps, and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems, this would make a real impact on our environment!