Usability Evaluation of a Primary Healthcare Information System for Epidemiological Research

Background: The development of Information Systems for the support of healthcare research in clinical environments is a major endeavor. Based on this fact the Laboratory of Health Informatics, University of Athens, Greece developed a prototype application for the Health Surveillance and the Epidemiologic Study of the farming population, based on the routinely collected health data and agricultural health and safety paramount information. Scope: The current study aims to evaluate the theoretical perception of potential Information System users in terms of system usability as it is related to clinical practice and epidemiologic research on farmersʹ health. In addition, the study is keen to evaluate the perception in terms of the system adoption by potential users, the system usefulness in a real clinical environment, its contribution to the typical activities of a Primary Healthcare Center and to the planning of health promotion strategies addressing farmers. Material and Methods: The evaluation was performed with the use of a questionnaire which included questions on the system usability, the computer experience and the potential contribution in epidemiologic research, health promotion policies and clinical practice. The sample consists of 58 Medical, Nursing and Dentistry students, which were identified as potential users. Results: Multiple regression analysis was used to test possible correlations, according to the fore mentioned research hypotheses. Based on the results, the determinant factors of the usersʹ perception regarding the support in clinical practice are the system use and the system information quality. The system applicability has also been found to be positively correlated with the system usage. Finally the screen display appears to be correlated statistically significant with both the perception that the system is a useful epidemiological research tool and the perception that it can contribute to the planning and implementation of health promotion strategies addressing farmersʹ health.