BACKGROUND
Smart and suitable health information systems and applications with fewer errors are crucial for healthcare facilities. One method that ensures the proper design of health information systems (HIS) and applications is usability evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the usability of the emergency information systems used at the emergency departments of four educational hospitals in Kerman, Iran.
METHODS
This study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, the information systems' errors and shortages were identified using a semi-structured questionnaire by users interviewing (nurses and the IT staff). In the second phase, based on the results obtained from the first phase, two separate questionnaires were designed for each group of users and collected their opinions about the usability of the emergency information systems.
RESULTS
The average score of “reducing and facilitating user’s daily activities” was significantly different among the hospitals (p=0.03). Shahid Beheshti Hospital obtained the lowest usability score (17.5), and Afzalipour Hospital obtained the highest usability score (21.75); moreover, the average score in “use of the HIS” in nurses and IT staff in the emergency department was 2.93 and 3.54 out of 5, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
An adequate evaluation of health information systems is essential to ensure that these systems provide sufficient and accurate information and requirements for users and health care providers. Also, modifying health information systems based on the user views and expectations improves the quality of the system and user-system Interaction.