Study Highlights Need for Smarter Medical Device Instructions for Experienced Clinicians

A new UCL study based on the HepatiCan liver support system has revealed that health care professionals approach medical device instructions very differently from inexperienced users — bringing both advantages and risks.

Through interviews and observational studies, researchers found that clinicians often rely on their prior expertise when learning a new device. This helps them quickly focus on key tasks, but can also lead to important information being skimmed or overlooked.

The study also showed a strong preference for visual instructions, with participants favoring diagrams and concise guidance over lengthy text. Researchers suggest that medical device manuals should place greater emphasis on clear visuals and highlighted safety information, while using appendices for more detailed explanations.

The findings could help improve the design of instructional materials for advanced clinical users and support safer adoption of new technologies like the HepatiCan.