Emergency provider preference for powered intraosseous devices and satisfaction with features improving safety, reliability, and ease-of-use

ABSTRACT

Background

Powered intraosseous (IO) systems are valuable devices for emergent situations, with limited data on user preferences. A simulation/survey-based study was conducted among emergency medical service (EMS) providers to evaluate attitudes toward general powered IO system features to measure preferences/satisfaction for the most-commonly used and a novel powered IO system (with a passive safety needle, battery life indicator, and snap-securement/dressing).

Research Design and Methods

Forty-two EMS providers completed a simulated activity using both powered IO systems and a 30-item questionnaire, including multiple choice, free-text, ranking, and Likert-like questions. Ranking scores were reported using a scale of 0 (least important/satisfactory) to 100 (most important/satisfactory). Statistical significances were evaluated via Wilcoxon signed-rank sum test.

Results

Providers indicated driver performance (mean score ± SD; 77.8 ± 27.5) and IO needle safety mechanism (63.1 ± 27.9) as the most important features. Participants reported significantly higher (p < 0.001) satisfaction with the novel IO system overall, and its needle safety, battery life indicator, securement/dressing, and ease-of-use. Powered driver performance satisfaction was similar and favorable for the novel (88.1 ± 18.2) and traditional (87.1 ± 15.3) systems.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the value of clinician/user input and demonstrate EMS providers are more satisfied with a powered IO system featuring design elements intended to enhance safety and ease-of-use.

KEYWORDS:

• Intraosseous vascular access
• powered intraosseous system
• passive safety
• ease-of-use
• emergency medical services

Acknowledgments

Data analysis, editorial support, and writing were provided by Halit O. Yapici, Lily Arnett and Amanda Agazio of Boston Strategic Partners, Inc. (funded by Becton, Dickinson and Company). Andrea McCamant (Becton, Dickinson and Company) assisted with study design and editorial review. This work was funded by Becton, Dickinson and Company.

Declaration of interest

KA reports current employment and stock ownership with Becton, Dickinson and Company, which manufactured the novel IO system (BD™ Intraosseous Vascular Access System) and sponsored this study. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewers disclosure

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Geolocation

Participants completed the simulations and surveys resulting in the data for this study in Atlanta, GA, USA (EMS World Expo 2021).

Authors’ contributions

This study was conceptualized, designed, and interpreted by AL, DJ, and KA. AL, DJ, and KA provided substantial editorial input and review of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This survey/simulation-based study was completed by healthcare providers to indicate their preferences regarding IO devices based on a simulated activity using training blocks. No patient data were collected, and in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki ethical principles for medical research and the US Office of Human Research Protections guidance, informed consent was obtained from participants as evidence of their agreement to voluntarily participate in this study.

Availability of data and materials

All relevant summary data are provided in the manuscript text, tables, and figures.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17434440.2023.2190019

Additional information

Funding

This work was sponsored by Becton, Dickinson and Company. The study sponsor was involved in the survey design, implementation, and writing of this manuscript. The study sponsor was not involved in the data analysis.