Design and development of interface design principles for complex documentation using PDAs

TitleDesign and development of interface design principles for complex documentation using PDAs
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsChang P, Hsu C-L, Liou YMei, Kuo Y-Y, Lan C-F
JournalComputers, informatics, nursing : CIN
Volume29
Issue3
Pagination174-83
Date PublishedMar
Type of ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
ISBN Number1538-9774 (Electronic)<br/>1538-2931 (Linking)
Accession Number20975544
Keywords*Computers, Handheld, *Documentation, *User-Computer Interface
Abstract

The screen interface has been believed to be the major barrier for the adoption of PDAs in healthcare. The study objectives were to design a set of screen interface design principles for complex documentation using PDAs and to examine nurses' perception of the ease of use and usefulness of the application. A 21-page Chinese version of the interRAI MDS-HC home-care assessment tool composed of more than 250 assessment questions was used for the application. A WiFi Palm-based PDA was used. A convenience sample of 60 subjects, primarily nurses newly trained to use the MDS-HC assessment tool, were invited to evaluate the PDA system in terms of Davis' Technology Acceptance Model. The final information structure of the PDA application consisted of 18 categories composed of 262 questions over 63 screens. Subjects could move to any assessment question in less than two taps without a memory burden and finish the question in one tap. Respectively, close to 95% and 93% of the subjects agreed that, overall, the system was easy to use and useful for their work. We conclude the screen interface challenge for complex documentation using PDAs can be improved and managed to achieve to a very high usability.

DOI10.1097/NCN.0b013e3181f9db8c
Link

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20975544

Short TitleComput Inform NursComput Inform Nurs
Alternate JournalComput Inform Nurs