Identification and Classification of Usability Problems in a Nursing Information System: A Heuristic Evaluation.

Abstract

Nursing information system is a system that nurses are required to use in order to perform their daily activities. Poor user interface design of nursing information system can cause problems in nurses' interaction with the system. This research aimed to evaluate the usability of nursing information system. During this study, five evaluators examined the nursing information system with the heuristic evaluation method and by using the checklist of Nielsen usability principles. Then, the identified problems were categorized into 10 Nielsen usability principles, and the severity of the problems was determined. They also attributed each problem to one of usability attributes. A total of 104 unique problems were identified. Most of the problems were related to the principle of "consistency and standards." More than a third of the identified problems were classed as major and catastrophe, with the highest severity in the average problems of "help and documentation" and "error prevention." Most of the identified problems were attributed to effectiveness and satisfaction. Because a significant number of identified usability problems in nursing information system were major and catastrophe and were attributed to effectiveness and satisfaction, being able to remedy the problems could improve nurses' interaction with the system user interface and increase satisfaction and effectiveness of nurses.