Presentation
MDD16 - Getting to Grips With Autoinjectors: An Exploration of Handling Behaviors, Ease of Use, and Comfort of Autoinjector Users With Obesity
SessionPoster Session 2
DescriptionShield-activated autoinjectors involving two primary steps (i.e., cap removal and activation) are sometimes referred to as 2-step autoinjectors. Even though 2-step autoinjectors reduce the number of user steps, users have a high degree of freedom in how they interact with the device, including handling behaviors such as grip type (e.g., precision or power grip), body posture (e.g., injecting while seated or standing), and skin handling (e.g., folding or stretching the skin at the injection site).
Literature on ergonomics suggests that grip types and body postures can affect how much force users can exert. Furthermore, the amount of force required to activate the device is likely influenced by both body composition and skin handling strategies. People with obesity are likely to have softer injection site tissue due to a high percentage of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue, and skin handling can affect the softness of the injection site. In turn, variations in these handling behaviors might influence perceived ease of use and comfort of users with obesity.
A better understanding of the relationship between different handling behaviors and users’ experiences can help inform the design of devices and user communication materials (1) to ensure that devices are designed to accommodate all handling behaviors, and (2) to ensure that communication materials encourage behaviors that yield safe and effective use and positive user experiences. Furthermore, because compliance with user communication materials (e.g., instructions for use, IFU), cannot be guaranteed, it is relevant to explore what behaviors users adopt when operating 2-step autoinjectors with optional use of the IFU.
This poster details insights from a user study (n=150) exploring two broad questions related to the behavior and experience of autoinjector users with obesity: (1) What grip types, skin handling, and body postures do injection experienced and inexperienced participants adopt when familiarization with the injection device and IFU is optional? (2) How are perceived ease of use and comfort affected when participants adopt different types of skin handling and body postures? The poster will summarize the key methods and findings of the study and discuss potential implications for development of devices and user communication.
Literature on ergonomics suggests that grip types and body postures can affect how much force users can exert. Furthermore, the amount of force required to activate the device is likely influenced by both body composition and skin handling strategies. People with obesity are likely to have softer injection site tissue due to a high percentage of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue, and skin handling can affect the softness of the injection site. In turn, variations in these handling behaviors might influence perceived ease of use and comfort of users with obesity.
A better understanding of the relationship between different handling behaviors and users’ experiences can help inform the design of devices and user communication materials (1) to ensure that devices are designed to accommodate all handling behaviors, and (2) to ensure that communication materials encourage behaviors that yield safe and effective use and positive user experiences. Furthermore, because compliance with user communication materials (e.g., instructions for use, IFU), cannot be guaranteed, it is relevant to explore what behaviors users adopt when operating 2-step autoinjectors with optional use of the IFU.
This poster details insights from a user study (n=150) exploring two broad questions related to the behavior and experience of autoinjector users with obesity: (1) What grip types, skin handling, and body postures do injection experienced and inexperienced participants adopt when familiarization with the injection device and IFU is optional? (2) How are perceived ease of use and comfort affected when participants adopt different types of skin handling and body postures? The poster will summarize the key methods and findings of the study and discuss potential implications for development of devices and user communication.
Event Type
Poster Presentation
TimeTuesday, April 14:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
LocationFrontenac Foyer