Usability Evaluation of the Information System Used in Neuroscience Research Centres

Abstract

Introduction: Information systems are tools for facilitating information management in research centres that improve quality by reducing errors and increasing speed and precision. Accordingly, their usability is of utmost importance. Usability problems can lead to user errors, may threaten patient safety, and negatively impact the quality of care. Aim: To evaluate the usability of the information system used in Neuroscience Research centres of hospitals affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBUMS), Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted in July 2020 at SBUMS. Before starting the study, ethical considerations such as obtaining informed consent, anonymity, confidentiality, and the participants’ freedom to withdraw from the study were taken into account. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire adapted from the Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use (USE) and ISO Metrics questionnaires. Samples were information system used in Neuroscience Research Centres of hospitals affiliated with SBUMS. Therefore, from the centres affiliated with SBUMS, only two hospitals met this requirement, which were Educational hospitals affiliated with SBMUS. The content validity of the questionnaire was examined, and its reliability was checked by Cronbach’s alpha. Results: The information systems of the mentioned centres had a usefulness of 5.93, learnability of 5.79, memorability of 5.22, user satisfaction of 4.89, and ease of use of 4.76, based on a 7-point Likert scale. Overall, the usability of the designed systems had an acceptable and favourable state based on all the criteria. Conclusion: Of the examined criteria, usefulness and learnability achieved a higher score, indicating the good design of the system in terms of these dimensions. However, the ease of use had the lowest score, showing the poor user design of the information system in this dimension. To achieve an excellent level of information system usability in these centres, attention should be paid to all the dimensions of information system usability.