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Usability testing of mobile ICT for clinical settings: methodological and practical challenges
Dag Svanaes1, Ole Andreas Alsos, Yngve Dahl
1Department of Computer and Information Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. dags@idi.ntnu.no
International Journal of Medical Informatics
|September 16, 2008
Summary
Usability testing for mobile Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems in clinical settings requires evaluating ergonomic and social factors, not just the interface. Realistic simulations with multiple users are crucial for comprehensive assessment.
Area of Science:
- Health Informatics
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Clinical Systems Engineering
Background:
- Limited understanding of usability testing for mobile Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems in clinical environments.
- Contrast with established methods for stationary EPR systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop evidence-based recommendations for usability testing of mobile Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in healthcare.
- Focus on mobile ICT systems designed for clinical workflows.
Main Methods:
- Conducted usability tests on two mobile EPR systems.
- Utilized full-scale hospital setting simulations.
- Involved simultaneous testing with multiple users.
Main Results:
- Mobile EPR system usability is influenced by factors beyond the graphical user interface.
- Ergonomic factors (e.g., hands-free operation) are significant.
- Social factors, such as impact on patient-provider interaction, are critical.
Conclusions:
- Usability testing must occur in realistic, simulated clinical environments to capture issues beyond traditional interface evaluations.
- Simultaneous testing with multiple users is often necessary for mobile EPR systems.
- High-fidelity simulations are essential for accurate usability assessment.
