Enhancing the peritoneal dialysis patient experience: Usability and satisfaction with the New Vivatum Alba Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis system

IntroductionThis study evaluated the usability and patient experience of the Vivatum Alba Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD)-System™, an integrated Bluetooth-enabled platform designed to enhance peritoneal dialysis (PD) delivery. Objectives included assessment of patient satisfaction, procedural competence, data accuracy, and reliability of transmission to the remote patient care (RPC™) platform. Such technology may help strengthen the safety and consistency of CAPD delivery, particularly where in-person follow-up is limited.MethodsA prospective, two-phase, multi-centre cohort study was conducted at two South African sites. Adults on stable PD for ≥3 months were enrolled. In Phase-1, participants received education and completed a usability questionnaire. In Phase-2, they were trained on the Alba system and performed supervised simulated and live PD exchanges. Outcomes included structured observations of procedural competence, patient satisfaction, and accuracy of data capture.ResultsOf the 41 participants enrolled, 30 completed both phases. The median age was 49 years; 52% were male. Hypertension was the most prevalent comorbidity (88%), while fluid overload, defined by bioimpedance or clinical assessment, was present in 58%. Structured observations showed strong procedural competence with consistent adherence to aseptic technique. Patient satisfaction was high (97.5%), and participants valued the system's intuitive interface, infection control prompts, and integrated vital sign monitoring. Vital sign and ultrafiltration measurements obtained via the Alba system correlated closely with manual values, and data transfer to the RPC™ platform was reliable.ConclusionsThe Alba CAPD System™ demonstrated high usability, strong satisfaction, ultrafiltration accuracy, and reliable data transmission, offering a feasible approach to enhance PD delivery. Further evaluation in home environments is warranted.