209585 Applying Heuristic Evaluation to improve the usability of a Patient Education and Motivation tool

Monday, November 9, 2009

Ashish Joshi, MD, MPH , Information Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltmiore, MD
Mohit Arora , Information Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD
Kathleen Price , Information Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD
Lisa M. Vizer , Information Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD
Liwei Dai , Information Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD
Andrew Sears , Information Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD
  
Background: Computer kiosks offer an opportunity to provide educational material on medical topics. These kiosks have been used to deliver a variety of health related information such as adult breast cancer screening information, asthma education, television and media use and injury prevention.

Objective: Our objective was to improve the usability of Patient Education and Motivation Tool through heuristic evaluation of the interface. The tool is an interactive computer-based educational program comprised of a touch screen computer, designed based on learning theories with 3 key components: screening, learning and evaluation.

Methodology: Three usability experts used Nielson's usability heuristics while reviewing the interface and generated list of heuristic violations with severity ratings. The issues were sorted by heuristic and ordered from most to least severe within each category. Results: A total of 127 violations were identified with an average severity of 2.5 (range 0-4). Results showed 13 violations for visibility (average severity=2.33), 38 violations for match between system and real world (average severity=1.99), 6 violations for user control and freedom (average severity=2.81), 34 violations for consistency and standards (average severity=2.15), 11 violations for error severity (average severity=2.67), 1 violation for recognition and control (average severity=2.67), 7 violations for flexibility and efficiency (average severity=2.33), 9 violations aesthetic and minimalist design (average severity=1.77), 4 violations for help users recognize, diagnose & recover from errors (average severity=3.17) and 4 violations for help and documentation (average severity=3.42). There were 26 major violations (average severity ≥2.5) considered to have potential of causing major consequences.

Conclusion: These heuristic evaluations provided a means to improve the user interface characteristics of the Patient Education and Motivation Tool.

Learning Objectives:
Design computer based Patient Education and Motivation Tool Identify the interface violations using heuristic evaluation. Discuss improvement in the interface using this feedback

Keywords: Technology, Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract Author on the content I am responsible for because I am currently conducting this research
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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