title: User needs elicitation via analytic hierarchy process (AHP). A case study on a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The rigorous elicitation of user needs is a crucial step for both medical device design and purchasing. However, user needs elicitation is often based on qualitative methods whose findings can be difficult to integrate into medical decision-making. This paper describes the application of AHP to elicit user needs for a new CT scanner for use in a public hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  AHP was used to design a hierarchy of 12 needs for a new CT scanner, grouped into 4 homogenous categories, and to prepare a paper questionnaire to investigate the relative priorities of these. The questionnaire was completed by 5 senior clinicians working in a variety of clinical specialisations and departments in the same Italian public hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although safety and performance were considered the most important issues, user needs changed according to clinical scenario. For elective surgery, the five most important needs were: spatial resolution, processing software, radiation dose, patient monitoring, and contrast medium. For emergency, the top five most important needs were: patient monitoring, radiation dose, contrast medium control, speed run, spatial resolution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AHP effectively supported user need elicitation, helping to develop an analytic and intelligible framework of decision-making. User needs varied according to working scenario (elective versus emergency medicine) more than clinical specialization. This method should be considered by practitioners involved in decisions about new medical technology, whether that be during device design or before deciding whether to allocate budgets for new medical devices according to clinical functions or according to hospital department.
authors.affiliation: Electrical Systems and optics research division, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, Nottingham, UK. leandro.pecchia@nottingham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pecchia
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ragozzino
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vanzanella
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scognamiglio
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mirarchi
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed / Q000592:standards*