Applying a Critical Review of an Online Platform for Nurse Practitioner Regulatory Assessment Using a Human Factors...

Using human factors approaches such as usability and usefulness in the evaluation of computerized information systems is key to the successful adoption for end users. Usability is associated with measuring the ease of use of a system, whereas usefulness is concerned with the accuracy and currency of the system content. At the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives, the nurse practitioner peer review incorporates the use of an online platform as part of the assessment process. The technology within this system has experienced challenges since its original deployment in 2012, particularly from an end user perspective. As such, it was important to conduct an evaluation in order to clearly identify the issues and develop recommendations and requirements for enhancements and improvements. A recognized usability evaluation methodology was selected including usability inspection as well as usability testing to ensure a thorough and comprehensive approach to this work. This approach proved highly effective in uncovering system issues within the regulatory health professions domain. Overall, usability evaluation methods were integral to meeting the objectives of this article and in demonstrating the value of applying human factors approaches in this context.