Our first steps, narrowing the list of devices

Over a twelve month period, the Pneumonia Diagnostics project identified and selected the most promising and appropriate devices for field testing in the four project countries.

A landscape analysis was initially undertaken, which identified almost 200 respiratory rate (RR) counters, mobile phone apps and pulse oximeters that already exist on the market. 

Once all devices were classified and ranked according to physical and functional parameters (e.g. accuracy, durability, portability), the devices manufacturers were contacted for input on the classification and ranking, and given an opportunity to correct the information and revise the scoring.

Parameters relating to user-preference and context were also included. Focus group discussions with health workers and national stakeholders were conducted, capturing current constraints in diagnosing pneumonia and suggestions for a tool that could improve it. A consensual preference for new diagnostic tools to be low cost; time efficient; accurate; simple to use; sustainable; durable; acceptable to community health workers, parents and children; and able to produce automated results were present in all findings.

Based on the attributes defined through this process, twelve devices were pre-selected for laboratory testing and a total of nine were finally taken for accuracy evaluation, including four respiratory rate timers and five pulse oximeter devices. These were evaluated in the four project countries as follows:

  Pneumonia diagnostic devices tested per country: