Application of safety feature evaluation in single-use safety syringe design

Abstract

Reuse and abuse of syringes has led to cross-infection of diseases. Usability evaluation of three of the most commonly used safety syringe types conducted in this study is through-push retract breakable safety syringe, rotary plunger retractable safety syringe and release-ring breakable safety syringe. By administering Safety Feature Evaluation Form (SFEF) and Focus Group Interviews on six professional nurses with an average professional experience over 11 years, usability problems with three types of safety syringe are found out. Six design principles have been ascertained and applied in development of a new safety syringe design, with input from a number of designers, nursing professionals and occupational safety technicians. New safety syringe significantly outperformed existing safety syringes on all evaluation indices.