Blood Pressure Monitor Usability Problems Detected Through Human Factors Evaluation

Abstract

Blood pressure monitors are one of the most commonly used medical devices in the home environment. They are abundantly available and easily accessible in the consumer market at reasonable prices. However, it is not clear to what extent these devices comply with the needs and expectations of users with varying levels of capability. This article focuses on the usability aspect of blood pressure monitors from a universal design perspective. I present the results of a study in which three brands of blood pressure monitors were examined through a method that combines hierarchical task analysis and heuristic evaluation.