A UX/UI approach to mobile application design for remote LVAD management

Introduction

In the context of digital health, mobile applications have assumed a central role in the remote management of medical devices. Among those requiring constant monitoring, the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) stands out. Nevertheless, there is a lack of specialised interfaces to support its monitoring.

Purpose

This study proposes the design of an iOS mobile interface, based on UX/UI principles, for the remote control and monitoring of LVAD devices, enabling physicians to track patient conditions and to intervene immediately in critical situations.

Methods

The research was guided by the Design Science Research (DSR) methodological framework, and included the following steps: problem identification, solution objectives, design and development, demonstration and evaluation. The interface follows Apple's Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) and incorporates medical requirements, such as clear visualization of patient parameters, risk alerts, and control of LVAD rotation speed.

Moderated usability tests were conducted with five specialists, including two physicians and three usability specialists, who interacted with the interface by performing specific tasks responding to simulated clinical scenarios. The testing approach was based on a Likert scale, with a questionnaire administered at the end of each session, containing ten key statements designed to measure user experience. Additionally, two Net Promoter Score (NPS) questions were included to assess perceived clinical reliability.

Results

The results present a functional version of the interface, along with data collected from the usability tests. The questionnaire responses indicated a positive reception from users, with all participants reporting confidence in using the interface and ease of interaction. They also identified areas for improvement, including adjustments to medical data presentation, the addition of further clinical information, enhancements to user interaction aligned with practices familiar to healthcare professionals, and inclusion of a tutorial to support user onboarding.

Conclusions

This work addresses the need for technological solutions that support continuous monitoring and care of patients with LVADs, representing an advancement in the integration of digital health into heart failure management. By providing accessible clinical data, the interface allows patients to remain under continuous supervision outside hospital settings, thereby reducing the need for frequent in-person consultations. Additionally, it enables early intervention when parameters deviate from expected values, which enhances patient safety.

The next steps for this project include the addition of new functionalities to the interface, such as background notifications for critical events and multi-user control, enabling simultaneous use by multiple clinicians.