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ABSTRACT
Background: There are various approaches to evaluating the usability of electronic medical record (EMR) systems. User perspectives are an integral part of evaluation. Usability evaluations efficiently and effectively contribute to user-centered design and supports tasks and increase user satisfaction. This study determined the main usability requirements for EMRs by means of an end-user survey. Method: A mixed-method strategy was conducted in three phases. A qualitative approach was employed to collect and formulate EMR usability requirements using the focus group method and the modified Delphi technique. Classic Delphi technique was used to evaluate the proposed requirements among 380 end-users in Iran. Results: The final list of EMR usability requirements was verified and included 163 requirements divided into nine groups. The highest rates of end-user agreement relate to EMR visual clarity (3.65 ± 0.61), fault tolerance (3.58 ± 0.56), and suitability for learning (3.55 ± 0.54). The lowest end-user agreement was for auditory presentation (3.18 ± 0.69). Conclusion: The highest and lowest agreement among end-users was for visual clarity and auditory presentation by EMRs, respectively. This suggests that user priorities in determination of EMR usability and their understanding of the importance of the types of individual tasks and context characteristics differ.
Acknowledgments
We express our sincere gratitude to the focal-point and end-user research contributors.
Declaration of interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Funding
This work was supported by the Kashan University of Medical Research Council [Grant Number 9056].
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Mehrdad Farzandipour
Mehrdad Farzandipour and Zahra Meidani made substantial contributions to the conception, design and acquisition of funding. Monireh Sadeqi Jabali participated in data collection and performed the statistical analysis. Zahra Meidani and Hossein Riazi contributed to manuscript drafting, revision, and approval, and Mehrdad Farzandipour was responsible for the general supervision of the research group.
Zahra Meidani
Mehrdad Farzandipour and Zahra Meidani made substantial contributions to the conception, design and acquisition of funding. Monireh Sadeqi Jabali participated in data collection and performed the statistical analysis. Zahra Meidani and Hossein Riazi contributed to manuscript drafting, revision, and approval, and Mehrdad Farzandipour was responsible for the general supervision of the research group.