Everything but the Kitchen Sink: A Mixed Methods Approach to Health IT Usability Testing

Abstract

Usability testing has become a necessary step to successfully implement health information technology, but despite the expanded variety of usability methods, systems still are not guaranteed to meet user needs in a hectic and dynamic healthcare environment. The present work discusses some of the metrics employed with the intent of usability testing clinical decision support alerts for the early identification of sepsis patients. By utilizing methods such as eye tracking, think aloud protocols, human computer interaction, and more, health information technology can be adequately developed to ensure effective, efficacious, and optimal integration.