Identification and Classification of Usability Problems in a Nursing Information System: A Heuristic Evaluation

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Nursing Informatics

Background:

• Nursing information systems (NIS) are essential tools for daily nursing activities.
• Poor user interface (UI) design in NIS can negatively impact nurse-system interaction.
• Usability is a critical factor for effective NIS implementation and adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the usability of a nursing information system.
• To identify and categorize usability problems within the NIS.
• To determine the severity and impact of identified usability issues on nursing practice.

Main Methods:

• A heuristic evaluation method was employed by five expert evaluators.
• Nielsen's 10 usability principles checklist was used for problem identification.
• Problems were categorized by principle, severity, and attributed usability attribute (effectiveness, satisfaction).

Main Results:

• A total of 104 unique usability problems were identified in the NIS.
• The most frequent issues related to the 'consistency and standards' usability principle.
• Over one-third of problems were classified as 'major' or 'catastrophe', particularly in 'help and documentation' and 'error prevention'.
• Most problems were linked to effectiveness and satisfaction attributes.

Conclusions:

• Significant usability problems exist in the evaluated nursing information system.
• Addressing major and catastrophic usability issues is crucial for improving NIS.
• Remedying these problems can enhance nurse-system interaction, satisfaction, and overall effectiveness.