CURO G10 - Glucose Meter Usability Study
A project for the graduate level class “Human Factors in Medical Technology” at Tufts University
Intro
The purpose of this usability test is to validate the performance of glucose meters under various use case scenarios and evaluate their easy-of-use. It was essential for us as administrators of the test to make the subjects feel at ease when proceeding with the usability test. We wanted to convey a sense of approachability and friendliness. The following is a bullet point summary of our results.
Test Scenarios
Our team utilized multiple methods to research and formulate our own test scenarios for our users to carry out. Researching glucose meters, reading the instructional manual itself, and investigating sequential testing methodologies we came across 5 specific user scenarios. We feel these represent a proper distribution of physical as well as cognitive tasks for the user to accomplish.
Scenario 1
“Glucose Meter Setup”
This scenario is meant to gauge the usability of completing the initial “setup process” of the glucose meter. This required going through the provided directions booklet and completing all six of the tasks.
Moderator Prompt: “For this scenario, we are asking you to complete the “initial setup” portion of the CURO-G10 Glucose meter. Please complete the instructions contained in the CURO-G10 instructional booklet”
Scenario 2
“Check Strip Test”This scenario is meant to highlight an essential process of testing the unit before one goes ahead to test the glucose device
Moderator Prompt: “Please perform the task “check strip test”. Use the instructional booklet to find the information to achieve this”
Scenario 3
“Performing a Blood Glucose Reading”
The goal of this scenario is to perform a blood glucose reading. The entire glucose meter kit was presented to the user with the directions in it but we did not tell them to explicitly use it.
Moderator Prompts: “You have just received this kit and want to perform a basic blood glucose reading. Please do this and feel free to use any methods you prefer.”
Notes For Moderator: Have the user go through the process to take a blood reading (with orange juice). After the user is done with the survey, show the user the CuroFit instructional video. Next, ask for comments about their process as well as the video mentioned above.”
Scenario 4
“Iconography Identification”Scenario 4: This scenario is meant to understand if the iconography provided within the UI of the glucose is intuitive.
Moderator Prompt: “For this activity, we would like to do your best to explain what you think each symbol means. If you do not know what a symbol means, please provide an answer regardless and give your best guess.” Please take this survey and match the symbol to the correct meaning. Go through each symbol with the user and show the correct meaning.”
A photocopy of the actual icons from the glucose kit
Scenario 5
“Upload Results to Smartphone”In this scenario, we are going to sync a user’s phone to the glucose meter through the device's NFC chip and a smartphone app.
Moderator Prompt: “We would like you to take one of your prior readings and sync a reading to your smartphone. Please download the CUROFit app on your smartphone. Feel free to consult the Curo-G10 Instructional Booklet for help or any other means you would like”
User Interview Notable Quotes
“The text is too tiny and hard to read. The majority of diabetics are older people so this doesn’t make much sense”
“English is not first language so I found some of the terms tricky to understand.”
“It’s very hard to see the lancing height number. They only used grey and there’s not contrast.”
“I wish the symbols were explained better in the instructions, they were a little misleading”
“I don’t know what this means on the screen. It says “EEE” and I don’t see any explanation.”
“I’m more of a visual learner so reading directions is not ideal. I would hope that there’s a video instructional online but I don’t see any links in the directions.”
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
Suggested Design Modifications
Allow adjustable text size
This was brought to our attention when a participant was trying to set the correct date and time during Scenario #1. The font size of the year and date are very tiny, and it was hard for the user to tell if they had selected the correct numbers.
Variable text sizing options
Including a “set up” screen
This was brought to our attention as, although not a necessary addition, it would provide space to the setup process and help not leave users confused on where to begin. By including instructions or guidelines on the device’s screen this would help users keep track of where they were in the process. This would be especially helpful to aid users who may get confused as to what step comes next if they are looking back and forth at the directions multiple times.
Include “Control Solution” with the kit
A 2.5ml bottle is available for about $10.00 and is something that should come with the glucose meter kit. Even if the company is concerned with adding an additional cost to the kit’s overall price point, we recommend perhaps including a small sample-sized bottle.
Change error display for test strip
We think that by changing the font size and the content of the error code for the test strip, users will better understand what is happening if an error reports back. It will also prevent a slow down in the process of taking one’s blood by not having to call customer service or search through the instructional booklet. Our recommendation would state, “ERROR WITH TEST STRIPE - Turn the meter off and please try strip again. Call 1-888-930-0030 If the problem persists” (See Appendix 3). This would allow the user to understand the error right then and there. Part of the new imagined text was taken directly from pg.46 in the user manual.
The original error code “EEE”
This is not intuitive and does not easily alert the user to its meaning.
The revised text
This makes it clear as to the issue, and the actions to take to resolve it. Using a photo editor we were able to replicate the general font style to create this edited image.
Change the color of the lancing height indicator
On the lancing device, there is a raised grey diamond-shaped object against a grey background of the exact same color. Make this diamond a different, preferably bright color and bigger so the user can easily understand which lancing height they are on. While the diamond is raised off the surface of the unit, the tactile sensation is barely noticeable and not nearly obvious enough. If a patient with diminished eyesight uses the device and becomes confused about what lancing height they’re on, it could prove to be a situation. By having the height set much too high it could create a deeper incision than planned for which may lead to increased pain and healing time.
The original design
The modified design
Provide a QR code for the Curo-created “How To Perform A Glucose Test” YouTube video
Upon searching YouTube there is a video produced by Curo that shows a brief film describing how to set up the device and how to operate the lancing unit to take a blood sample. While this video does not show how to perform more advanced features such as syncing one’s smartphone to the Curo G-10, it presents highly useful information. By including a simple QR code on the outside of the box, they could help many first-time users get started faster and make fewer mistakes in the process.
A modified image of the Curo packaging with a QR code added
Include symbol information earlier in the instructions in the setup phase, instead of just as an appendix
The whole process relies on the symbols to be easy to understand, and having them hidden in the instructions appendix is possible at the end of the setup phase so that users can be introduced to them early on and remember where they are so they can go back to them when they need to.
Having the app uses Bluetooth to connect to the device instead of NFC
Near field communication (NFC) is outdated technology and was a pain to get the reading transferred, meanwhile Bluetooth technology is much more reliable nowadays and could be used instead.
Device available in English language only
The kit comes with an instruction manual which is only available in English, restricting its users to primarily English-speaking users only. This can be problematic to diverse audiences. The app furthermore does not include language change options either, making the comprehensive factor of the device reasonably low.
Conclusion
Throughout this usability study, we were able to apply research methods, interviews, and analysis to understand better the physical CURO-Fit glucose meter as well as its customers in a deeper way. Applying Human Factors to medical devices is not only something we find or moral value but it is also of serious legal value. The FDA has required that certain Human Factors principles be applied to the safety of medical device testing to promote safer solutions with less risk that are a benefit to the patient and manufacturer alike. We hope you have enjoyed our study and have found benefit from our findings and discoveries made. If you have any additional comments or questions please do not hesitate to reach out to us and we would be happy to follow up with you further.