A Co-Design Approach to Developing a Hydrogel Based Diagnostic Tool for Periodontal Disease: Perspectives from Healthcare Professionals

Background/Objectives: Early diagnosis of periodontal disease is vital for preventing disease progression and improving patient outcomes. This study explored healthcare professionals’ perspectives on a novel minimally invasive biofluid sampling device in-tended for periodontal disease diagnosis. Methods: A co-design approach was used to engage end users during early device development. Two focus group discussions were conducted with dentists, followed by an online questionnaire completed by dentists and other oral healthcare professionals. The aim was to gather opinions, preferences, and suggestions regarding the proposed device’s design and clinical application. Re-sults: The innovation was well received by survey respondents (n = 54) and partici-pants of the focus group discussions, who also provided insightful comments on as-pects including physical features, diagnostic value, usability, and integration with clinical workflow. Conclusions: The co-design process revealed that there is a need for the novel biofluid sampling device. Suggestions from the participants helped improve an early internal Target Product Profile and bring the device closer to clinical require-ments and expectations.