Difference between revisions of "Usability"
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Usability has been identified as a key factor in user satisfaction among health care professionals[1]. Thus implementers of hospital information systems need pay attention to usability to ensure acceptance among end users. To ensure usability, researchers and engineers use several key research methods to model user behavior. These methods range from qualitative observational studies to survey methods. Hollan and his colleagues describe a frame work of cyclical design that encompases distributed cognition, usability testing, and design (see Figure 1:[http://aspiclove.googlepages.com/Fig1.png])[2]. Indeed, usability assessments find their strength in the middle of the development cycle, so that developers can make refinements to the software (also known as "formative research") [3]. | Usability has been identified as a key factor in user satisfaction among health care professionals[1]. Thus implementers of hospital information systems need pay attention to usability to ensure acceptance among end users. To ensure usability, researchers and engineers use several key research methods to model user behavior. These methods range from qualitative observational studies to survey methods. Hollan and his colleagues describe a frame work of cyclical design that encompases distributed cognition, usability testing, and design (see Figure 1:[http://aspiclove.googlepages.com/Fig1.png])[2]. Indeed, usability assessments find their strength in the middle of the development cycle, so that developers can make refinements to the software (also known as "formative research") [3]. | ||
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On the other hand, qualitative analyses can be used to better understand physician behavior after a system has been designed. Kushniruk and colleagues demonstrated changes in diagnostic reasoning as a result of program usage; clinicians structured their interviews to match the program's work-flow [4]. | On the other hand, qualitative analyses can be used to better understand physician behavior after a system has been designed. Kushniruk and colleagues demonstrated changes in diagnostic reasoning as a result of program usage; clinicians structured their interviews to match the program's work-flow [4]. | ||
Qualitative video & "think aloud" research paradigms can be used to compare or validate questionnaire responses. This methodology entails recording video either in a controlled laboratory environment or in more naturalistic environments, even in a practice site. In the "think aloud" procedure, subjects attempt to vocalize their thougts as they interact with an application. Researchers found that while satisfaction can be rated highly for an information system, the think aloud transcription show that clinicians note several shortcomings during use. This example underlines the differences between online use experience and its recall, a possible weakness of survey data. | Qualitative video & "think aloud" research paradigms can be used to compare or validate questionnaire responses. This methodology entails recording video either in a controlled laboratory environment or in more naturalistic environments, even in a practice site. In the "think aloud" procedure, subjects attempt to vocalize their thougts as they interact with an application. Researchers found that while satisfaction can be rated highly for an information system, the think aloud transcription show that clinicians note several shortcomings during use. This example underlines the differences between online use experience and its recall, a possible weakness of survey data. | ||
| − | + | # Murff HJ, Kannry J. Physician Satisfaction with Two Order Entry Systems. J. Am Med Info Ass. 2001; 8: 499-509. | |
| − | + | # Holllan J, Hutchins E, Kirsh D. Distributed cognition: Toward a new foundation for human-computer interaction research. ACM Trans Comp Hum Int. 2000; 7:174-96 | |
| − | + | # Kushniruk AW, Patel VL. Cognitive and usability engineering methods for the evaluation of clinical information systems. J Biomed Info. 2004; 37:56-76. | |
| − | + | # Kushniruk AW, Patel VL, Cimino JJ. Usability testing in medical informatics: Cognitive approaches to evaluation of information systems and user interfaces. | |
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| + | [[Category: EHR]] | ||
Revision as of 20:23, 24 November 2008
Usability has been identified as a key factor in user satisfaction among health care professionals[1]. Thus implementers of hospital information systems need pay attention to usability to ensure acceptance among end users. To ensure usability, researchers and engineers use several key research methods to model user behavior. These methods range from qualitative observational studies to survey methods. Hollan and his colleagues describe a frame work of cyclical design that encompases distributed cognition, usability testing, and design (see Figure 1:[1])[2]. Indeed, usability assessments find their strength in the middle of the development cycle, so that developers can make refinements to the software (also known as "formative research") [3].
On the other hand, qualitative analyses can be used to better understand physician behavior after a system has been designed. Kushniruk and colleagues demonstrated changes in diagnostic reasoning as a result of program usage; clinicians structured their interviews to match the program's work-flow [4]. Qualitative video & "think aloud" research paradigms can be used to compare or validate questionnaire responses. This methodology entails recording video either in a controlled laboratory environment or in more naturalistic environments, even in a practice site. In the "think aloud" procedure, subjects attempt to vocalize their thougts as they interact with an application. Researchers found that while satisfaction can be rated highly for an information system, the think aloud transcription show that clinicians note several shortcomings during use. This example underlines the differences between online use experience and its recall, a possible weakness of survey data.
- Murff HJ, Kannry J. Physician Satisfaction with Two Order Entry Systems. J. Am Med Info Ass. 2001; 8: 499-509.
- Holllan J, Hutchins E, Kirsh D. Distributed cognition: Toward a new foundation for human-computer interaction research. ACM Trans Comp Hum Int. 2000; 7:174-96
- Kushniruk AW, Patel VL. Cognitive and usability engineering methods for the evaluation of clinical information systems. J Biomed Info. 2004; 37:56-76.
- Kushniruk AW, Patel VL, Cimino JJ. Usability testing in medical informatics: Cognitive approaches to evaluation of information systems and user interfaces.
![[1]](http://aspiclove.googlepages.com/Fig1.png){kind=link}