Usability assessment of automated external defibrillator

Abstract

Aim: Consideration should be given to the usability of AEDs, which are operated by general citizens as well. A survey of AED's usability was conducted involving dental hygiene students, whose situation was considered to be close to that of general citizens.
Methods: The 42 participants were told that the study researcher was responsible for cardiac massage of the casualty, and they were in charge of operating the AED. The participants operated the AED and observed the process of delivering a shock. Later on, a 90-minute emergency lecture was provided, after which the same experiment was conducted in order to make comparisons. Six types (A-F) of AED trainers were used.
Results: Eight out of 21 participants had difficulty opening the lid of the AED. After the lecture, the time from when the participants were asked to operate the AED to the initiation of ECG analysis was shortened by 17.0-66.0 seconds, and the time from when the AED's "shock" button began to flash to pressing it was shortened by 0.8-4.8 seconds. Voice guidance on how to operate AEDs differs according to their type. Some AEDs direct their users to check respiration and/or the pulse, and some only direct their users to take off the rescued person's clothes and attach AED pads according to the illustrations provided. Eleven out of 42 participants attached AED pads with the right and left sides reversed.
Conclusion: There are some issues regarding the usability of AEDs when they are operated by general citizens. It is necessary to resolve these issues.