Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The Biomedical Engineering Group of the University of Seville, the Endocrinology and Nutrition Unit of the Virgen Macarena Hospital (ENU-VMH) and the company Igluco Tech are developing the GLUCUBE device, a new non-invasive sensor for blood glucose measurement.

Objective: First validation of usability and accessibility of the device by patients in a controlled clinical environment.

Material and Methods: General user-centered methodology. Design of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to collect opinions, requirements and improvements suggested by users. Selection of subjects for validation based on the heterogeneity of the sample, age, gender, socioeconomic characteristics and digital culture. From a preliminary prototype, iterative development carried out in parallel to the validation incorporating the identified improvements to the user-sensor interfaces.

Results: Study characteristics: 96 people with type I diabetes, 142 type II, 1 LADA, 19 without diabetes; 123 women; 84±19 kg weight (mean ± standard deviation); 54±16 years; 166±13 cm height, 30±7 BMI, assisted in follow-up consultations of ENU-VMH.Age group of people under 50 years old: 72 people with type I diabetes, 12 type II, 6 without diabetes; 43 women, 47 men; 80±21 kg weight; 35±10 years; 169±14 cm height, 27±7 BMI.Age group of people over 50 years old: 24 people with type I diabetes, 130 type II, 1 LADA, 14 without diabetes; 80 women, 89 men; 86±18 kg weight; 65±8 years; 165±12 cm height, 31±6 BMI.The usability and accessibility tests showed that 81% of the volunteers under the age of 50 expressed interest in having the results preferably displayed on the screen of a mobile phone, while 19% indicated the device screen as a preference. On the other hand, in the age group of people over 50 years old, only 13% of the volunteers preferred the screen of a mobile phone compared to 87% who preferred a visual interface on the device. 100% of the users positively valued the non-invasive nature of the proposed prototype and the ease of use. Regarding general aspects of the prototype, 97% of the patients indicated that the device did not need improvements and 2% suggested that voice prompts be included. 20% of users indicated a long battery life as a desirable feature for the device.

Conclusions: The introduction of user usability and accessibility validation in the design, from its early stages, guarantees the ease of use and adherence of the patient to the use of the final device.