Overview

Our world-leading team of researchers from UCL, Swansea University, Queen Mary University of London, and City University has been awarded an EPSRC Programme Grant, CHI+MED, to improve the usability and safety of interactive medical devices.

CHI+MED (Computer-Human Interaction for Medical Devices) is a major new research project to improve the usability and safety of interactive medical devices, such as infusion devices, glucometers and vital signs monitors — devices that have a user interface and are designed to be used by people without extensive technical training. Incorrect user programming or readings can, and unfortunately does, result in incorrect treatment, even patient death.

Medical errors in the UK are estimated to kill or seriously injure 74,000 people a year. Many of these involve errors with interactive medical devices; the usability and reliability of such devices is critical. Incorrect programming or readings can result in incorrect treatment, even patient death. Reliance on interactive medical devices is growing, both in clinical settings and, increasingly, for patients without direct clinical supervision. For example, pumps give drugs for treatment and pain relief of cancer patients, while glucometers measure blood sugar levels for diabetics.

Better interaction design, the focus of CHI+MED, will improve safety by a scientific approach to understanding and designing out errors. CHI+MED will study the design and use of devices, in both controlled settings and in hospital and home settings. The project will work with those who design, purchase, deploy and use devices, to deliver improvements in the design and selection of devices and training users. It should save lives and improve the standard of living, particularly of those with long-term illnesses.

CHI+MED is working to understand and solve these problems.

It will make medical equipment, whether used in hospitals or at home, safer.