For this assignment, write a 1,000 word paper in which you:
- Select a technology that has been explored in the course. (mobile-based diabetes remote
monitoring system) - Using the technology you have selected, define and describe how the element would be measured
or evaluated. - Using the content in the textbook and other readings, list three elements that will be used to
evaluate the user-technology interface. - Perform an assessment using elements of user-technology interface or human factors methods to
determine functionality. - For each element, propose practicable suggestions for improvement using support from the
literature.
About Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which a person’s levels of blood sugar or blood glucose are too
high way above the average levels of a healthy person. Glucose is obtained from the
carbohydrate foods that people eat. Then a hormone called insulin then helps the glucose into the
body cells, which in turn gives them energy. Diabetes is, therefore, a disease where the body
does not make insulin or that it has insulin but does not use insulin well (Tschöpe et al., 2017).
A Mobile-Based Diabetes Remote Monitoring System
Diabetes is a chronic disease that needs to be regularly monitored to keep sugar levels
within normal ranges. One of the ways that diabetes can be observed is by using a mobile-based
diabetes remote monitoring system such as the glucometer (Cafazzo et al, 2012).
Running Head: Mobile-Based Diabetes Remote Monitoring System 2
How Glucometer Measures and Evaluates Sugar Levels
Blood glucose test meter is likely to be one of the essential tools used to measure and
maintain sugar levels in the body. Regular checkups provide patients with valuable information
about how patient’s diabetes treatment plant is working. A glucose meter is a device used to
measure the number of sugar levels in the body. It uses a small amount of blood to measure the
glucose levels. Traditionally, a glucometer comes with a meter itself, test strips, lancets which
are used to draw blood and lancing device. Recording book is also required to keep records of
the measured blood test results for future use. It can be used both at home and in the clinics. It
works by analyzing the blood Samples with particular chemicals used to determine the levels of
sugar (Kart et al., 2017).
A patient should first wash his or her hands then dry them. A test strip is then loaded to
the device. The patient then draws some amount of blood using the lancing device and then
places it on the test strips. A small amount of blood is then allowed to enter in the strips. When
the end of the strips is touched then a drop of blood the blood flows in capillary action. Then
there would be some ‘beep’ sounds signaling that the test has begun. The meter then analyzes
and reads the sugar levels in the blood samples. The readings are then recorded and interpreted
(Kart et al., 2017).
Elements of User Technology Interface of Glucometer
The following are the elements of User Technology Interface of a glucometer:
Display screen
Test Strips
Stiff plastics
Running Head: Mobile-Based Diabetes Remote Monitoring System 3
Assessment of User Technology Elements of Glucometer
A glucometer is a test tool for self-monitoring of blood glucose. It is a necessary device
especially when monitoring is a necessary continuous process. The elements of a glucometer
should consider the following factors; visibility, match between system and a real world, user
control freedom, consistency and standards, error prevention flexibility and efficiency of use and
help as well as documentation. The display screen should be easy to read and match between the
real worlds. The language should be readable to the user, symbols, numbers, and texts should
also be comprehensible to the reader. The reader should also be able to control the display
screen. This may involve changing font types, color, and size also the contrast so that visibility is
significantly enhanced. The visibility of the display screen should also be useful (Davis et al.,
2015).
The test strips should be of correct standards and efficient since the control of the
analytical quality of self-monitor of blood glucose requires high attention. The test strips, being
one of the core elements of the glucometer, should meet the set and requisite standards. Different
blood samples should then be placed on these strips for testing, and the first method of their
workability should be based on results obtained by the controlled glucometer and use of
laboratory method or point of care testing device to surrogate reference analyzer. The stiff plastic
should use a traditionally organized external quality assessment scheme with the use of a
dedicated control material, which is given to the participants. The results are then meant to be
used to determine the quality of the glucometer concerning other devices used to measure blood
sugar levels (Kart et al., 2017).
Improvement That Could Be Made On a Glucometer
Running Head: Mobile-Based Diabetes Remote Monitoring System 4
The monitor design and its suppliers should be improved. Many types of glucose meters
are available using different technologies such as reflectance photometry or the electrochemistry.
The screen displays should have an additional automatic commencement of timing after inserting
the strip in the instrument. The size of the display screen should also be increased to enable the
data to be read accurately. The users should also ensure that larger displays are activated to
ensure that there is easy readability of the showed results (Klonoff, 2014).
Additional features for storage and management features should additionally be installed
for storage of measured data. Materials used in the manufacture of the test strips ought to be
commutable materials that are stable for the period of the exercise. The test strips should also be
made of materials that do not affect the blood sugar levels. Stiff plastics should be made of
superior and enhanced mechanical properties for stronger more rigid plastics sheet. The plastics
strips should be made in such a way that they are wearable and of disposable nature (Kart et al.,
2017).
To improve the efficiency and accuracy of the results. The strip type sensor can also be
fabricated on a thin polyimide substrate to complete the fabrication. The silicone patch on the
test strips should be made thinner to improve the accuracy. The spaces found in between the test
layers should be made smaller to allow for small quantities of blood to enter the Glucose meter
device to ensure the meter to read accurately (Klonoff, 2014).
The Sugar Levels in the Sampled Blood
A set standard reading should be used to enable uniformity of glucose meter device
readings all over the world to allow easy comparison of data related to diabetes. The test strip
Running Head: Mobile-Based Diabetes Remote Monitoring System 5
should also be made of materials that are highly unreactive to prevent any reaction that could
occur between the test strip and the chemicals in it (Tschöpe et al., 2017).
References
Davis, K., Lawson, K., Almeida, D., Kelly, E., King, R., Hammer, L., Casper, L., Okechukwu,
C., Hanson, G., McHale, S., (2015, May). Parents’ Daily Time with Their Children: A Workplace
Intervention.
Kart, Ö., Mevsim, V., Kut, A., Yürek, İ., Altın, A., Yılmaz, O., (2017, November). A
Mobile and Web-Based Clinical Decision Support and Monitoring System for Diabetes Mellitus
Patients in Primary Care: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.