Natural-setting PHR usability evaluation using the NASA TLX to measure cognitive load of patients

Emily Pachunka, John Windle, Ryan Schuetzler, Ann Fruhling

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

While personal health records (PHRs) carry an array of potential benefits such as increased patient engagement, poor usability remains a significant barrier to patients' adoption of PHRs. In this mixed methods study, we evaluate the usability of one PHR feature, an intake form called the pre-visit summary, from the perspective of cognitive load using real cardiovascular patients in a natural setting. A validated measure for cognitive load, the NASA Task Load Index, was used along with retrospective interviews to identify tasks within the pre-visit summary that increased participants' cognitive load. We found that the medications, immunizations, active health concerns, and family history pages induced a higher cognitive load because participants struggled to recall personal health information and also due to user interface design issues. This research is significant in that it uses validated measures of cognitive load to study real patients interacting with their PHR in a natural environment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 52nd Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, HICSS 2019
EditorsTung X. Bui
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
Pages3954-3963
Number of pages10
ISBN (Electronic)9780998133126
StatePublished - 2019
Event52nd Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, HICSS 2019 - Maui, United States
Duration: Jan 8 2019Jan 11 2019

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences
Volume2019-January
ISSN (Print)1530-1605

Conference

Conference52nd Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, HICSS 2019
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityMaui
Period1/8/191/11/19

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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