The Library
User needs elicitation via analytic hierarchy process (AHP). A case study on a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner
Tools
Pecchia, Leandro, Martin, Jennifer L., Ragozzino, Angela, Vanzanella, Carmela, Scognamiglio, Arturo, Mirarchi, Luciano and Morgan, Stephen P. (2013) User needs elicitation via analytic hierarchy process (AHP). A case study on a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, Volume 13 (Number 1). Article number 2. doi:10.1186/1472-6947-13-2 ISSN 1472-6947.
|
Text
WRAP_Pecchia_1472-6947-13-2.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 2.0.. Download (796Kb) | Preview |
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6947-13-2
Abstract
Background:
The rigorous elicitation of user needs is a crucial step for both medical device design and purchasing. However, user needs elicitation is often based on qualitative methods whose findings can be difficult to integrate into medical decision-making. This paper describes the application of AHP to elicit user needs for a new CT scanner for use in a public hospital.
Methods:
AHP was used to design a hierarchy of 12 needs for a new CT scanner, grouped into 4 homogenous categories, and to prepare a paper questionnaire to investigate the relative priorities of these. The questionnaire was completed by 5 senior clinicians working in a variety of clinical specialisations and departments in the same Italian public hospital.
Results:
Although safety and performance were considered the most important issues, user needs changed according to clinical scenario. For elective surgery, the five most important needs were: spatial resolution, processing software, radiation dose, patient monitoring, and contrast medium. For emergency, the top five most important needs were: patient monitoring, radiation dose, contrast medium control, speed run, spatial resolution.
Conclusions:
AHP effectively supported user need elicitation, helping to develop an analytic and intelligible framework of decision-making. User needs varied according to working scenario (elective versus emergency medicine) more than clinical specialization. This method should be considered by practitioners involved in decisions about new medical technology, whether that be during device design or before deciding whether to allocate budgets for new medical devices according to clinical functions or according to hospital department.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Subjects: | R Medicine > R Medicine (General) T Technology > T Technology (General) |
||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Engineering > Engineering | ||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Tomography, Medical instruments and apparatus, Decision making , Physicians , Hospital purchasing | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making | ||||
Publisher: | BioMed Central Ltd. | ||||
ISSN: | 1472-6947 | ||||
Official Date: | 2013 | ||||
Dates: |
|
||||
Volume: | Volume 13 | ||||
Number: | Number 1 | ||||
Page Range: | Article number 2 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1186/1472-6947-13-2 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons) | ||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 25 December 2015 | ||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 25 December 2015 | ||||
Funder: | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) | ||||
Grant number: | EP/F063822/1 (EPSRC) |
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
View Item |
Downloads
Downloads per month over past year