Patient Bed Transfer Aid for Healthcare Professionals

Product Development: Consultation

This consultation is part of a student project to be delivered by May 2014 to achieve a BEng (Hons) Product Design with Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. The consultation is part of a full product development and design process. Please read the following project statement before completing the survey.

Through desk research, the student has developed a brief to design a product for healthcare professionals to use during the patient transfer procedure from bed to bed in the supine position. The key functionality for this product is to ensure transfers can be efficient and safe for both the patient and person/people carrying out the transfer.

Possible scenarios may include:
Emergency Service - Ambulance Trolley to emergency room
Operating Theatres - Emergency/ICU to Operating Table (vice versa)
CT Scan - Emergency/ICU to CT Scanner (vice versa)

The purpose of this survey is to gain professional feedback and experience of current transfer methods. This includes insight into positive attributes and potential improvements (features and specifications) of current products in use.

This research has been ethically approved by the University of Strathclyde and the student is being supervised by University staff. All data collected through this survey will be anonymous. Completion of this survey will identify that you have given your consent for this information to be gathered and published as product research evidence.

If you would like to receive further information about this project, or would like to be included further in the product development process please contact Greg Murphy: greg.murphy@strath.ac.uk

1. Please state your current role:

2. Please state the number of years you have worked within the healthcare profession:

3. Have you experienced an 'unsafe' (for either patient or healthcare professional) transfer?

Yes
No
Don't Know

Please explain further:

4. Have you experienced lack of staff to properly carry out a successful, safe transfer of a patient?

Yes
No
Don't Know

Please explain further:

5. How often does this problem of minimal staff occur?

Please explain further:

6. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the most), how effective do you rate current transfer aids?

Please explain further:

7. Do you feel that there is a valid need/requirement for transfer equipment to be updated/redesigned?

Yes
No
Don't Know

Please explain further:

8. What in your opinion would make the current transfer method safer and more effective? (choose all that apply)

More people present
Better grip on the sheet i.e. possible handle addition/modification
A method of sliding the patient more than lifting
A shorter transfer distance

Any further suggestions?

9. How much physical contribution should staff have to make to the transfers whilst using this aid?

No physical input, aside from preparations for the transfer
Some physical contribution
A decreased amount of physical contribution
Full physical contribution
Don't Know

Please explain further:

10. Would it be beneficial in your opinion to have a product aid that would allow only one member of staff to perform the transfer?

Yes
No
Don't Know

Please explain further:

11. Should a transfer product provide auxiliary functions? For example, IV stands, elevation and position adjustment?

Yes
No
Don't Know

Please explain in more detail:

Patient Bed Transfer Aid for Healthcare Professionals

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1. Please state your current role:

2. Please state the number of years you have worked within the healthcare profession:

3. Have you experienced an 'unsafe' (for either patient or healthcare professional) transfer?

4. Have you experienced lack of staff to properly carry out a successful, safe transfer of a patient?

5. How often does this problem of minimal staff occur?

6. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the most), how effective do you rate current transfer aids?

7. Do you feel that there is a valid need/requirement for transfer equipment to be updated/redesigned?

8. What in your opinion would make the current transfer method safer and more effective? (choose all that apply)

9. How much physical contribution should staff have to make to the transfers whilst using this aid?

10. Would it be beneficial in your opinion to have a product aid that would allow only one member of staff to perform the transfer?

11. Should a transfer product provide auxiliary functions? For example, IV stands, elevation and position adjustment?

12. Please provide any other relevant feedback/comments: