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National questionnaire study on clinical ICT systems proofs: physicians suffer from poor usability
Johanna Viitanen1, Hannele Hyppönen, Tinja Lääveri
1Strategic Usability Group, School of Science, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland. johanna.viitanen@aalto.fi
International Journal of Medical Informatics
|July 26, 2011
Summary
Physicians reported significant usability issues with clinical information and communication technology (ICT) systems, impacting efficiency and patient care. Addressing these deficiencies is crucial for improving healthcare technology user experience.
Area of Science:
- Health Informatics
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Medical Technology Evaluation
Background:
- Usability studies in health informatics often focus on single systems with small user groups.
- The usability of the overall clinical information and communication technology (ICT) environment is less understood.
- Healthcare professionals daily interact with complex ICT systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To inform researchers and practitioners about the current usability of clinical ICT systems.
- To enhance understanding of usability aspects specific to the clinical context.
- To promote a holistic approach to studying usability in health informatics.
Main Methods:
- A national web questionnaire study in Finland (Spring 2010) surveyed 3929 physicians.
- Evaluated usability through three dimensions: task compatibility, ICT support for collaboration, and interoperability/reliability.
- Utilized a five-point Likert-scale for 32 statements on ICT system experiences and EHR system grading.
Main Results:
- Physicians provided critical ratings for Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, averaging 6.1-8.4 out of 10.
- Identified significant usability problems hindering clinical ICT efficiency and routine work.
- Systems lacked features for decision-making, error prevention, and data retrieval; collaboration support was poor, with issues in system failures and integration.
Conclusions:
- This national study of nearly 4000 physicians is unique in a widely adopted healthcare technology context.
- The study provides a generalized view of usability problems, acknowledging significant differences between legacy systems.
- It represents a foundational step in conceptualizing ICT usability within the complex clinical work environment.
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