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Remote videolink observation of model home sampling and home testing devices to simplify usability studies for point-of-care diagnostics [version 1; peer review: 4 approved with reservations]

Remote videolink observation of model home sampling and home testing devices to simplify usability studies for point-of-care diagnostics [version 1; peer review: 4 approved with reservations]
Remote videolink observation of model home sampling and home testing devices to simplify usability studies for point-of-care diagnostics [version 1; peer review: 4 approved with reservations]
Both home sample collection and home testing using rapid point-of-care diagnostic devices can offer benefits over attending a clinic/hospital to be tested by a healthcare professional. Usability is critical to ensure that in-home sampling or testing by untrained users does not compromise analytical performance. Usability studies can be laborious and rely on participants attending a research location or a researcher visiting homes; neither has been appropriate during COVID-19 outbreak control restrictions. We therefore developed a remote research usability methodology using videolink observation of home users. This avoids infection risks from home visits and ensures the participant follows the test protocol in their home environment. In this feasibility study, volunteers were provided with models of home blood testing and home blood sampling kits including a model lancet, sampling devices for dried blood spot collection, and model lateral flow device. After refining the study protocol through an initial pilot (n = 7), we compared instructions provided either as written instructions (n = 5), vs addition of video instructions (n = 5), vs written and video instructions plus videolink supervision by the researcher (n = 5). All users were observed via video call to define which test elements could be assessed remotely. All 22 participants in the study accessed the video call and configured their videolink allowing the researcher to clearly observe all testing tasks. The video call allowed the researcher to assess distinct errors during use including quantitative (volume of blood) and qualitative (inaccurate interpretation of results) errors many of which could compromise test accuracy. All participants completed the tasks and returned images of their completed tests (22/22) and most returned completed questionnaires (20/22). We suggest this remote observation via videolink methodology is a simple, rapid and powerful methodology to assess and optimise usability of point-of-care testing methods in the home setting.
2398-502X
Needs, Sarah Helen
24425556-99e3-4c46-995b-2381776a0a38
Bull, Stephanie P.
75bb813a-350d-4954-9683-6ef3aae6088a
Bravo, Josefina
285db3c7-2ec0-47a1-b442-876e4f34379d
Walker, Sue
b257a39f-610f-44bd-8480-a073a926678a
Little, Gemma
b1fe236c-963b-4455-92a9-00e07cc6e058
Hart, Julie
b2f2ff62-ab7f-45ea-9248-550c9449c4ec
Edwards, Alexander D.
bc3d9b93-a533-4144-937b-c673d0a28879
Needs, Sarah Helen
24425556-99e3-4c46-995b-2381776a0a38
Bull, Stephanie P.
75bb813a-350d-4954-9683-6ef3aae6088a
Bravo, Josefina
285db3c7-2ec0-47a1-b442-876e4f34379d
Walker, Sue
b257a39f-610f-44bd-8480-a073a926678a
Little, Gemma
b1fe236c-963b-4455-92a9-00e07cc6e058
Hart, Julie
b2f2ff62-ab7f-45ea-9248-550c9449c4ec
Edwards, Alexander D.
bc3d9b93-a533-4144-937b-c673d0a28879

Needs, Sarah Helen, Bull, Stephanie P., Bravo, Josefina, Walker, Sue, Little, Gemma, Hart, Julie and Edwards, Alexander D. (2020) Remote videolink observation of model home sampling and home testing devices to simplify usability studies for point-of-care diagnostics [version 1; peer review: 4 approved with reservations]. Wellcome Open Research, 5, [174]. (doi:10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16105.1).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Both home sample collection and home testing using rapid point-of-care diagnostic devices can offer benefits over attending a clinic/hospital to be tested by a healthcare professional. Usability is critical to ensure that in-home sampling or testing by untrained users does not compromise analytical performance. Usability studies can be laborious and rely on participants attending a research location or a researcher visiting homes; neither has been appropriate during COVID-19 outbreak control restrictions. We therefore developed a remote research usability methodology using videolink observation of home users. This avoids infection risks from home visits and ensures the participant follows the test protocol in their home environment. In this feasibility study, volunteers were provided with models of home blood testing and home blood sampling kits including a model lancet, sampling devices for dried blood spot collection, and model lateral flow device. After refining the study protocol through an initial pilot (n = 7), we compared instructions provided either as written instructions (n = 5), vs addition of video instructions (n = 5), vs written and video instructions plus videolink supervision by the researcher (n = 5). All users were observed via video call to define which test elements could be assessed remotely. All 22 participants in the study accessed the video call and configured their videolink allowing the researcher to clearly observe all testing tasks. The video call allowed the researcher to assess distinct errors during use including quantitative (volume of blood) and qualitative (inaccurate interpretation of results) errors many of which could compromise test accuracy. All participants completed the tasks and returned images of their completed tests (22/22) and most returned completed questionnaires (20/22). We suggest this remote observation via videolink methodology is a simple, rapid and powerful methodology to assess and optimise usability of point-of-care testing methods in the home setting.

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Published date: 21 July 2020

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 502220
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/502220
ISSN: 2398-502X
PURE UUID: aa84a23a-c791-4cee-8cfd-247ccd123d86
ORCID for Alexander D. Edwards: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2369-989X

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Date deposited: 18 Jun 2025 16:42
Last modified: 22 Aug 2025 02:39

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Contributors

Author: Sarah Helen Needs
Author: Stephanie P. Bull
Author: Josefina Bravo
Author: Sue Walker
Author: Gemma Little
Author: Julie Hart
Author: Alexander D. Edwards ORCID iD

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