Overview of Critical Factors Affecting Medical User Interfaces in Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of critical factors, which affect on-screen user interfaces of medical devices in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). A literature survey with relevant research publications has led to selection of thirty eight critical factors in ICU. The critical factors identified are categorized into various groups based on three major aspects-system evaluation parameters, constituents of patient management and user interface design. Physicians' survey, in which five physicians are involved, is used to categorize the identified critical factors into related groups. In the process, fourteen critical factors are mainly selected, which affect on-screen user interface design of medical devices. The applicability of such factors is demonstrated with the help of a case study of head-injury patient admitted in ICU. The critical factors identified are definitely useful to device manufacturers, user interface designers, ICU administrators and physicians for improved device design, ICU resource management and patient care.