Usability The user’s ability to access and operate the functionality provided by complex systems (Johnson, 2006) The extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use (Schumacher et al, n.d). Perceived usefulness & perceived ease of use (J. Kim, 2011)

Challenges in Usability Poor usability: user’s don’t want to use the system, inefficient system use, ineffective system use Designers: Fail to consider end user requirements (Johnson, 2006) Complex computer applications (2006) Impact patient outcomes negatively (2006) Indirect consequence: costs (2006)

Usability Heuristics 5 components of usability (J. Kim, 2011) – Learnability, efficiency, memorability, errors, satisfaction 10 usability heuristics (Nielsen, 1994) – Visibility of system status, match between system and real world, user control and freedom, consistency and standards, error prevention, recognition, flexibility, aesthetic design, help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors, help and documentation

Usability heuristics for medical devices (J. Kim, 2011) – Minimize memory, informative feedback, user’s language, closure, consistency

Challenges and Solutions Usability Heuristics of importance: – Match between system and real world – Error prevention: Unintended user action  use error. App should verify information – Aesthetic design: larger screens, resolution, layout (Lu et al, 2005) – Visibility of system status: if system every goes down, have backup – Consistency and standards: speak the users’ language, have consistent icons – User control and freedom: SBAR

Schumacher, R. M., Patterson, E. S., North, R., Zhang, J., Lowry, S. Z., Quinn, M. T., Ramaiah, M., &, (n.d.). Technical evaluation, testing and validation of the usability of electronic health records. National Institute of Standards and Technology US Department of Commerce.

References Johnson, C. W. (2006). Why did that happen? exploring the proliferation of barely usable software in healthcare systems. Qual Saf Health Care. Kim, J. (2011). Analysis and design of health information systems lecture two. Unpublished raw data, Health Policy and Management, York University, Toronto, Canada. Lu, Y. C., Xiao, Y., Sears, A., & Jacko, J. A. (2005). A review and a framework of handheld computer adoption in healthcare. International Journal of Medical Informatics, Nielson, J. (1993). Usability engineering. San Diego, USA: Academic Press. Schumacher, R. M., Patterson, E. S., North, R.,Zhang, J., Lowry, S. Z., Quinn, M. T., Ramaiah, M., &, (n.d.). Technical evaluation, testing and validation of the usability of electronic health records. National Institute of Standards and Technology US Department of Commerce.