A Web-Based Tool to Report Adverse Drug Reactions by Community Pharmacists in Australia: Usability Testing Study

Area of Science:

• Pharmacovigilance
• Health Informatics
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are underreported despite their importance in patient safety and drug surveillance.
• Digital communication of ADR information can improve patient safety and regulatory oversight.
• Community pharmacists play a key role in postmarketing surveillance of ADRs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the usability of the GuildCare Adverse Event Recording system, a web-based platform used by Australian community pharmacists for ADR reporting.
• To identify specific usability issues and user experiences with the GuildCare system.
• To provide recommendations for improving ADR reporting systems.

Main Methods:

• A structured interview protocol was used, incorporating remote observation, think-aloud techniques, and retrospective questioning.
• The System Usability Scale (SUS) was administered to quantify user experience.
• Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data from field notes.

Main Results:

• The GuildCare system achieved an above-average usability score (SUS = 68.57).
• Specific issues identified included unnecessary information, lack of clarity, and redundant data fields, which were not captured by the SUS.
• Useful design elements included drop-down menus, free-text entry, checkboxes, and auto-populated fields.

Conclusions:

• User-centric design is essential for effective ADR reporting systems to meet community pharmacists' needs.
• Structured usability testing during development is crucial for identifying and addressing system issues.
• Enhanced usability of ADR reporting systems can promote adoption and improve patient safety.