Human-centered Phone Oximeter Interface Design for the Operating Room - Pulse Oximeter Interfaced to a Mobile Device for Anesthesia Monitoring in the Developing World

Mobile phones offer huge potential as platforms for clinical decision making in resource-poor and remote areas. We present methods for the development of a human-centered interface for anesthesia monitoring that is targeted to remote operating rooms in developing countries. The Phone Oximeter is compatible with major PC and mobile phone operating systems and is optimized for small phone screens. It displays vital physiological parameters in the corresponding clinical colours. Combined with an easily identifiable icon, this guarantees that accessibility is language-independent. To evaluate the acceptance and usability of the initial prototype of the Phone Oximeter, the Think Aloud process while completing a specific Task List, followed by the Mobile Phone Usability Questionnaire (MPUQ) were tested on 20 subjects with varying medical and mobile phone experience. The acceptance rate of 81.9 % from the MPUQ questionnaire clearly demonstrates the usability of the Phone Oximeter. The incorporation of the most relevant errors and complaints into the design of the next iteration of the Phone Oximeter prototype enhanced its capabilities further.