Vickie Nguyen

Detection and characterization of usability problems in structured data entry interfaces in dentistry

BACKGROUND Poor usability is one of the major barriers for optimally using electronic health records (EHRs). Dentists are increasingly adopting EHRs, and are using structured data entry interfaces to enter data such that the data can be easily retrieved and exchanged. Until recently, dentists have lacked a standardized terminology to consistently represent oral health diagnoses. OBJECTIVES In this study we evaluated the usability of a widely used EHR interface that allow the entry of diagnostic terms, using multi-faceted methods to identify problems and work with the vendor to correct them using an iterative design method. METHODS Fieldwork was undertaken at two clinical sites, and dental providers as subjects participated in user testing (n=32), interviews (n=36) and observations (n=24). RESULTS User testing revealed that only 22-41% of users were able to successfully complete a simple task of entering one diagnosis, while no user was able to complete a more complex task. We identified and characterized 24 high-level usability problems reducing efficiency and causing user errors. Interface-related problems included unexpected approaches for displaying diagnosis, lack of visibility, and inconsistent use of UI widgets. Terminology related issues included missing and mis-categorized concepts. Work domain issues involved both absent and superfluous functions. In collaboration with the vendor, each usability problem was prioritized and a timeline set to resolve the concerns. DISCUSSION Mixed methods evaluations identified a number of critical usability issues relating to the user interface, underlying terminology of the work domain. The usability challenges were found to prevent most users from successfully completing the tasks. Our further work we will determine if changes to the interface, terminology and work domain do result in improved usability.

Opportunistic decision making and complexity in emergency care

In critical care environments such as the emergency department (ED), many activities and decisions are not planned. In this study, we developed a new methodology for systematically studying what are these unplanned activities and decisions. This methodology expands the traditional naturalistic decision making (NDM) frameworks by explicitly identifying the role of environmental factors in decision making. We focused on decisions made by ED physicians as they transitioned between tasks. Through ethnographic data collection, we developed a taxonomy of decision types. The empirical data provide important insight to the complexity of the ED environment by highlighting adaptive behavior in this intricate milieu. Our results show that half of decisions in the ED we studied are not planned, rather decisions are opportunistic decision (34%) or influenced by interruptions or distractions (21%). What impacts these unplanned decisions have on the quality, safety, and efficiency in the ED environment are important research topics for future investigation.

Software ergonomics: relating subjective and objective measures

The use of computers in the workplace is now commonplace. Correspondingly, injuries associated with computer use have increased. However, little research has been done investigating whether these injuries are associated with the software being used. One reason is the difficulty in measuring muscle strain (a predictor of muscle related injuries). Here we present preliminary results of study on the relationship between objective and subjective measures of muscle strain during computer use. As users completed sets of tasks using MSWord®, SEMG muscle activity was recorded for the muscles associated with using a keyboard and mouse. After each task set, users completed surveys asking the level of strain they experienced during the tasks. Correlations between the measures suggest that subjective measures can provide reliable information regarding the muscle strain associated with software use. These easily obtained subjective measurements could assist in producing software interaction designs that are better for users.

UX in Varied Domains: Similarities and Differences Presented Pecha Kucha Style:

Pecha Kucha is a presentation format where presenters are only able to use twenty images to describe their project or a specific topic for a grand total of six minutes and forty seconds. Specifically, the presentation consists of twenty images presented at twenty seconds each. This alternative format forces presenters to provide a focused presentation on their specific topic and creates a means to spark innovation by potentially helping presenters and audience members uncover unexpected ideas together. This session will help push conference participants to consider how UX is used similarly or differently in various Human Factors domains and how to adapt these methods into their own work domain. Our hope is that this session will help display a unique way of participating in an UX Day Challenge Session as well as spark innovation in the Human Factors field. This session continues the mission of using User Experience Day to introduce new session formats to the HFES Annual Meeting and attract User Experience Practitioners.

Peer-mediation of the adoption of efficient software interaction methods: A model based on priming

Our peers are an important source from which we glean new information or are reminded of old information that influences our behavior (Bandura, Ross, & Ross, 1961; Osman, 2008; Rieman, 1996). One important domain in which this phenomenon functions is the adoption of efficient means of accomplishing our work (Peres, Tamborello, Fleetwood, Chung, & Paige-Smith, 2004). Using a novel peer mediation paradigm, we performed an empirical study of efficient method adoption in a software usage task and observed a causal effect of peer behavior modeling. Our computational cognitive model explains the peer modeling effect in terms of priming the memory of the efficient method. We conclude that behavior changes do result from peer interactions that prime memories for the targeted behaviors.

Keyboard Shortcut Users: They Are Faster at More than Just Typing

Software efficiency may be important for employees who want to be viewed as valuable assets in a company. One efficient method people can employ is the use of the keyboard to issue commands (KICs) because KICs are faster than other methods, e.g. menus or icons. Furthermore, using KICs may reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries (RSIs). This paper examines the question of whether KIC users utilize different types of interaction techniques more quickly than non-KIC users. Participants were exposed to five conditions, each consisting of different computer tasks. One condition was used to determine KIC usage, the independent variable. The other four conditions were used to objectively measure performance in time (i.e., efficiency), one of the dependent variables. After each condition, participants completed the NASA-TLX survey, which was used as a subjective measure of workload, the second dependent variable. Task performance correlated strongly or moderately with KIC usage for all conditions, which indicates that KIC users finished all tasks more quickly than other users—even when they used other techniques than KICs to accomplish those tasks. There was no relationship between KIC usage and subjective workload.