A usability study to evaluate the suitability of a portable wireless solution for Infection Control Practitioners

Cathy Kealey
City of Hamilton

*Jamie Ingham
Interpix Design Inc

Glenn Brunetti
City of Hamilton

*Murray Saunders
Interpix Design Inc.

Topic: Usability and human factors on the web
Track: Business
Type: Poster presentation

     Full text: Not available
     Slides: Not Available
     Last modified: March 15, 2006

Abstract
Background: In 2003, Ontario faced a serious threat, an unknown infectious agent; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) spread through health care settings such as hospitals and clinics. 44 people died and thousands became ill or were quarantined. Many lessons were learned from this outbreak highlighting the difficulties in the containment of infectious diseases in both hospital settings and for public health. [1] Campbell, 2004 [2] Walker, 2004. After SARS, a provincial regulation required hospitals to screen for 'Febrile Respiratory Illness' (FRI) for patients entering the hospital. Positive screens must be forwarded to public health units.

Business Problem: Hospital staff, like much of the health care system, is stretched thin. Additional requirements such as the FRI surveillance were viewed as time consuming and burdensome. Hospitals also had other public health reporting such as West Nile virus, influenza A and Streptococcus A. These reporting mandates created friction between ICPs and public health, and an easier way to collect information in regional hospitals was sought. Public health was investigating a wireless solution to aid in the collection of this data.

Objectives: The purpose of the review was to focus on the FRI Surveillance task flow, processes, and potential for a wireless solution acceptable to both public health and Infection Control Practitioners (ICPs) with consideration of longer-term public health requirements for the ICPs.

Methodology: Researcher's job shadowed one hospital ICP and conducted one-on-one, in-depth interviews with three additional ICPs from other hospitals (total population of eight ICPs). Interviews were also conducted with public health management involved in disease surveillance. Workflows were mapped and user profiles were developed [3] (Manning, 2003) [4] Cooper, 2003). Recommendations were presented to public health and hospital staff for review and feedback.

Results: Any automated process must allow the ICP to enter data at the source (the ward) and only once. Otherwise ICPs will return to using paper and then have to transcribe the paper copy to the system, thereby doubling their effort. PDAs are appropriate for limited data entry, but are onerous for forms of one or two pages. One page of paper form translates roughly into 2 screens of web pages but requires 8-12 IPAQ size screens. Regardless of the device selected for ICPs to enter data, an internet based connection for distributing forms and communicating them to Public Health will be required. An internet based solution will be strategic, scalable, flexible and adaptable.

Conclusion: This poster will demonstrate how the study, using personas, contextual inquiry and task analysis was used to investigate potential reporting solutions. Although a wireless solution was not recommended, there were several design implications for the health care sector to improve its data collection and reporting. For this purpose, PDAs, although portable allowing for data entry near the data sources can have shortcomings in their flexibility, security and cost to develop. Any system implemented must be simple, secure, and scalable, have built-in redundancy, and leverage existing systems.