Evaluation of user interface satisfaction of a clinical outcomes database

Interface design and usability testing are important skills for the informatics nurse. This study used the Questionnaire for User Interaction Satisfaction (QUIStrade mark) to evaluate a nurse practitioner outcomes database used to track client variables for evaluating clinical outcomes and for implementing a process improvement project. Five nursing faculty and students were instructed in the use of the database and subsequently evaluated the usability or "ease of use" of the interface (data entry screens). The mean on individual QUIS ratings ranging from 3.0 to 8.0 on a 9-point scale, although most mean ratings were moderately high. User comments identified specific areas for improvement in the interface. Discovering problem areas and modifying the screen design prior to deployment may increase the usability of the database and decrease user frustration.