Name: Ms. Amy C. Cole and Dr. Lukasz Mazur
Affiliation: ¹ Division of Healthcare Engineering, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; ² Carolina Health Informatics Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA

“Addressing the Need for a Specialized Disconnection Device in Catheter Connection Management: A Case Study of User-Centered Medical Device Innovation”
by Amy C. Cole, Nicole Wiley, Kerri Dalton, Daniel R. Richardson, Deborah Allen, Nancy Havill and Lukasz Mazur
Nurs. Rep. 2025, 15(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep15020036
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/15/2/36

The following is a short interview with Ms. Amy C. Cole and Dr. Lukasz Mazur:

1. Congratulations on your published paper! Can you give us a brief introduction of yourself and your research for our readers?
Ms. Cole: I am a doctoral candidate in the Carolina Health Informatics program at the University of North Carolina, USA. My research is interdisciplinary, focusing on human factors, health services, health informatics, and medical device development. The core of my work is participatory engagement, which involves engaging stakeholders at the right time throughout the research development cycle. This allows us to co-design decision-support tools and medical devices that support stakeholders' needs.
Dr. Mazur: I am a professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology within the School of Medicine. My background is in industrial and human factors engineering. Over the past two decades, I’ve worked on patient safety, quality, and well-being. I also have a joint appointment with the School of Information and Library Science, contributing to the Carolina Health Informatics Program.

2. What aspect of your work excites you most right now? Have you encountered any unexpected findings during your research journey?
Ms. Cole: What excites me most is working with a fantastic, diverse, and multidisciplinary research team. My passion lies in engaging stakeholders, especially patients, caregivers, and nurses, to understand the root causes of the issues they face. An unexpected finding in this particular study was how a small problem with disconnection from central venous catheters extended to other types of catheters, impacting patient safety and healthcare costs. We applied frameworks to understand the root cause, and evidence-based practices to highlight the importance of developing a device to mitigate this issue.
Dr. Mazur: I share Amy's excitement about participatory engagement and its real-world impact. The interdisciplinary nature of the work, which involves collaboration with experts from different fields, allows us to apply knowledge from diverse domains to solve complex healthcare problems. It’s fascinating to explore how engaging with stakeholders can result in more meaningful and impactful solutions.

3. How do you think your research could be applied in real-world situations or influence future research directions?
Ms. Cole: I hope this research leads to the development of a disconnection medical device that can be used by nurses in their daily practice, as well as by patients and caregivers in home healthcare settings. By engaging the right stakeholders at the right time, we can ensure the device meets their needs. Future research should focus on implementing research outcomes by continuing to involve stakeholders throughout the entire research and development process, from study design to dissemination.
Dr. Mazur: The research emphasizes the importance of stakeholder engagement, and this approach can help implement changes in healthcare settings. The future of this research could lead to a more systematic understanding of how participatory engagement can improve patient safety and healthcare practices. The involvement of nurses and other healthcare professionals will be crucial in shaping these solutions.

4. We saw that you collaborated with other researchers and institutions on this project. How did the collaboration work, and what benefits did it bring to the research?
Ms. Cole: I have been fortunate to work with Dr. Mazur, as well as other experts from various fields, including Nicole Wiley, a biomedical engineer who helped develop the disconnection device as well as nurse scientists and oncologists across different healthcare systems. This collaboration has allowed us to combine different perspectives and resources to develop a comprehensive solution to the problem. The support from the UNC departments and the input from different stakeholders has been vital in refining the device and ensuring its effectiveness.
Dr. Mazur: The collaboration has been incredibly beneficial, especially in terms of accessing the diverse expertise available at UNC. Working with Amy has been a great experience because of her personal motivation and commitment to the research. This collaboration has enabled us to bring together various areas of expertise, ensuring that our research addresses both the technical and human factors aspects.

5. What do you hope readers will take away from your paper?
Ms. Cole: I hope readers recognize the importance of developing the disconnection medical device and the interconnection between organizational structures and healthcare practices. The key takeaway is the significance of engaging the right stakeholders at the right time throughout the research and development process. I want readers to consider how participatory engagement can enhance the effectiveness of research outcomes.
Dr. Mazur: I hope readers experience a “wow” moment when they realize that such a device doesn’t exist in healthcare already. The paper should emphasize that this is not just a theoretical design but a real, evidence-based solution developed through collaboration with healthcare professionals. It is about showing that the process of designing a device is just as important as the final product.

6. What inspired you to submit this work to our journal, and how was your experience?
Ms. Cole: Nurses are the primary end users of this device, and we wanted to ensure that they had access to our research. Nursing Reports' open-access model was a key factor in our decision to submit. Our experience with the journal has been wonderful, from the thoughtful attention to detail of the Editor to the helpful Reviewer feedback, which made the final paper even stronger. I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to work with Nursing Reports.
Dr. Mazur: I echo Amy’s sentiments. The support and efficiency throughout the process have made a significant difference. Amy has spoken highly of the entire experience, and I agree that the clarity and speed of the process were much appreciated. It felt like the journal truly valued our work and made it easy for us to contribute.

7. What advice do you have for future generations that are chasing this field of research?
Ms. Cole: My advice is to find an aspect of research that inspires you and drives you to dig deeper. Research is time-intensive, so it’s important to work on something that you are passionate about. If you’re genuinely interested in the topic, the hard work will feel rewarding. Don’t be afraid to dig into the details and expand your knowledge by collaborating with other subject matter experts, including patients and caregivers.
Dr. Mazur: The key is personal motivation. You need to understand why you’re conducting the research and be committed to it, especially when faced with challenges. Research is not just about completing a project; it’s about being driven by a clear purpose. If you have that clarity, you’ll be able to push through the long hours and hard work.