From manual to digital: prospective ICU evaluation of the FIZE kUO® for continuous urine output measurement.

BACKGROUND

ICU nurses manage complex, time-sensitive care while also performing frequent manual tasks. Manual urine output (UO) measurement is one such task that remains labor-intensive, interruptive to workflow, and prone to delays - despite the need for timely and accurate recording. Automation may reduce this burden and improve consistency of monitoring. The FIZE kUO® is an electronic urinometer designed to provide continuous, real-time UO data without requiring manual handling.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective, single-center pilot study to evaluate the usability, workflow impact, and safety of the FIZE kUO® device in 10 critically ill patients. Nurses completed staged questionnaires before, during, and after use to assess perceptions of manual monitoring versus automated monitoring. Device performance and adverse events were documented throughout monitoring.

RESULTS

Nursing staff reported positive perceptions regarding ease of setup (84-87%), time saving (74%), and improved recognition of changes in UO (87%). At treatment completion, 88.9% of nurses indicated the system prevented missing data, and 78% reported it facilitated earlier identification of situations requiring intervention. The device provided continuous monitoring for a total of 1,263 patient-hours, with no device-related adverse events or serious adverse events observed.

CONCLUSION

Automating urine output monitoring was perceived by nurses as beneficial for workflow efficiency, data reliability, and clinical awareness. Nurses perceived the FIZE kUO® to reduce repetitive manual tasks and support timely decision-making. These findings support the potential of automated UO monitoring to alleviate components of ICU nursing workload.