The results from the SC+ HFT with patients as well as healthcare professionals prove that SC+ is easy to use even with a significant learning decay period and minimal training.

UK-based medical technology company Quanta Dialysis Technologies Ltd., has apparently declared THAT the results from its HFT (human factors testing) of SC+ have been published in a leading peer-reviewed journal for the renal community, titled Hemodialysis International.

For the uninitiated, SC+ had been designed to make home hemodialysis and self-care accessible to patients via a small, easy-to-use device that is strong enough to deliver dialysis adequacy, thereby helping patients undertake control of their lives. The device also fulfils the requirement of a dialysis system that patients not only find appealing but it is also suitable to be used across clinics and homes.

As per sources familiar with the knowledge of the matter, the HFT of SC+ had been performed with 17 medical care professionals comprising healthcare assistants and nephrology nurses, and 15 home users including caregivers and patients.  The HFT had been undertaken in an effort to analyze if SC+ could be used effectively and safely.

Apparently, the HFT involved 4.5 to 6 hours of training, and post a training decay period of a minimum of 24 hours, a subsequent test session was undertaken wherein participants were scrutinized independently performing tasks on SC+. Only 29 use errors were observed out of the 1,216 opportunities for error, between these two user groups, despite minimal training. Also, reports claim that the errors that occurred had been minor and had been attributed to the initial lack of device familiarity rather than device safety.

John E. Milad, CEO, Quanta Dialysis Technologies, has been quoted to say that the device uptake rates are low despite the benefits that the home haemodialysis offers. The low uptake may also be related to the fear concerned with self-managing treatments at home, continues Milad. Nonetheless, SC+ is a patient-centric, user-friendly, personal hemodialysis system, Milad says, adding that the findings in this study lend a strong support to the company’s claims that it is capable enough to address systemic and patient barriers, and to enable enhanced self-care.