Evaluating electronic blood pressure measurement devices with fuzzy TOPSIS technique

Abstract

Electronic blood pressure measurement device is a medical device used to measure blood pressure and is available in hospitals and healthcare centers. There are many companies manufacturing electronic pressure measurement devices. The process of evaluating and selecting an electronic pressure device is complex process. This study uses a multi-criteria decision-making method, fuzzy-based Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to solve the selection problem of the electronic blood pressure measurement devices for clinical use in hospitals. Fuzzy TOPSIS is considered one of the effectively used decision-making methods. This study will help decision-makers in hospitals and medical centers to choose the most appropriate electronic blood pressure measuring device out of available alternatives based on some important criteria considered in this study which are the price of device, built in battery charger, memory for reading pressure, pressure range, systolic pressure range, diastolic pressure range, pulse rate range, automatic measurement cycle, neonate measurement, and weight. Based on the select-ed criteria and assigned weights, Philips-SureSigns VS1 electronic blood pressure measurement device came first in the ranking, followed by Datascope corp-Accutorr Plus. This methodology will serve as a basis for making the decision in purchasing an electronic blood pressure measurement device. The criteria used and the weight of each criteria were determined by the specialists and can be updated based on the decision makers priorities. This study helps professionals and medical engineers in health care to choose the best electronic blood pressure monitor among several alternatives.