1. Lecture 9 Usability of Health Informatics Applications (Chapter 9)

2. Learning Objectives
Key Concepts: Human Factors, Ergonomics, Human–Computer Interaction, and Usability.
Goals and Axioms of Usability
Human–Computer Interaction Frameworks and Components
Usability Studies: Types, Tests, Methods, and Process
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3. Key Concepts
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4. Key Concepts … HUMAN FACTORS
Interactions between humans and instruments/tools
Ergonomics
Human performance and interaction with physical characteristics of tools/ machines/computers/systems
Focus on design for safety, comfort, and convenience
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5. …Key Concepts Human-computer Interaction (HIC)
How people design, implement, evaluate interactive computer systems in the context of users’ tasks and works
Usability
How a product can be used to achieve specific goals with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction
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6. Usability Goals …
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7. … Usability Goals
Allowing users to focus on the task at hand rather than on technology
Effectiveness : usefulness and safety of technology in reaching goals: completeness, accuracy, cognitive match, tasks/functions allocation between human and computer
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8. …Usability Goals
Efficiency of expenditure resources : time, cost, productivity (error rates, learnability)
User satisfaction of interactions with systems: positive perceptions about usability and perceived benefits lead to application acceptance and use
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9. Axioms of Usability
An early and central focus on users in the design and development of systems (understanding users in depth)
Iterative design of application (allowing user to evaluate the prototype and provide feedback on systems effectiveness and efficiency)
Systematic usability measures (design and evaluation in a recurring cycle, feedback loop)
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10. Human–Computer Interaction Frameworks
UFuRT (multiple users, expertise /cognitive characteristics, functions, functions/tasks analysis)
FITT framework (individual, tasks, technology)
HOT-fit (human, organization, technology-fit)
Staggers Health Human–Computer Interaction Framework (developmental timelines, multiple contexts, multiple groups of users, multiple technologies)
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11. Staggers HCI Frameworks
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12. Components of Staggers HCI Framework: Patient, Provider, and Computer Behaviors
User interface
Human and technology characteristics
Task information exchange process (explicit or implicit goal of task)
Health context/environment (actual or virtual, concrete of cultural/abstract)
Developmental trajectory (new human and technology characteristics emerge over time)
Joint cognitive systems (systems development as a plan with feedback and feed forward loops in a cyclical model)
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13. Basic Usability Tests ...
Heuristics Evaluation / Heuristic Inspection Methods
“Heuristic” = “Rule of thumb”
Compare applications against accepted guidelines for efficiency and effectiveness
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14. …Basic Usability Tests
Simplified Usability Tests
Discount Usability Technique: use a small numbers of users with “think aloud” technique
Cognitive Walkthrough
Use “think aloud” technique to elicit user’s thought processes while using an existing products.
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15. Types of Usability Tests …
Discovery Test to determine user needs and requirements at the beginning of SDLC
Basic activities in this context
Users cognitive process information
Special considerations in this environment
Attributes for initial design
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16. …Types of Usability Tests
Exploratory Test during early development or redesign
Value of basic functionality
Intuitive navigation and information flow
Required computer experience
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17. …Types of Usability Tests
Assessment Test during midway development
User performance of selected tasks
System consistency across modules
Quick detection of critical information
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18. …Types of Usability Tests
Validation Test
Late in design cycle
Test against predetermined standards, benchmarks, performance measures
How well modules integrated in the whole system
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19. …Types of Usability Tests
Comparison Test
Assess different technologies
Which application/technology is more efficient
Which design is more effective
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20. Usability Methods … Task Analysis
Focus on cognitive processes, observable user actions or interaction with a system to reach user’s goals
What users are doing or required to do with a technology
Tasks and behavioral actions between users and computers.
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21. …Usability Methods Think-aloud Protocol
Users will talk aloud as they interact with an application
Usability Questionnaires
QUIS,
Purdue Usability Questionnaire
SUMI
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22. …Usability Methods Focused ethnographies
Field study of people in cultural, social settings
Study social relationships and their impacts on work
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23. Process of Conducting Usability Tests …
Define a clear purpose
type, details, methods
Assess constraints
time, resources, technology, available users
Use an HCI framework to refine each component.
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24. …Process of Conducting Usability Tests
Emphasize components of interest:
control some framework components
measure only what we want to know
Match methods to purpose, constraints, and framework assessment.
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25. Look into the Future New users (will include patients)
New types of information
New directives from agencies
New technologies
Ubiquitous computing
“Usability has a strong, often relationship with clinical productivity, error rate, user fatigue and user satisfaction – critical factors for EMR adoption (HIMSS 2009)” Cf. p.171, § 5
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