"We want it now and we want it easy" : Usability testing of an online health library for healthcare practitioners.
Date
2011-08-01
Authors
Wilson, Virginia
Neilson, Chrisine J
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NRC Research Press
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Article
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Abstract
Introduction - The purpose of this study was to undertake website usability testing of the Saskatchewan Health
Information Resources Partnership (SHIRP) online library website,. a digital library for healthcare providers working in the province of Saskatchewan, to determine whether the SHIRP website is intuitive for healthcare practitioners to use. Methods: Thirteen volunteers from four locations in the province participated in a usability test that included a portion
devoted to the completion of tasks, as well as a series of semi-structured interview questions. Data were analyzed and
themes were identified that were used to redesign the SHIRP website. Results - Nine out of the 13 main menu terms on
the SHIRP website were problematic. A relatively low number of participants completed the assigned tasks on the first
try. The SHIRP website was determined to be unwieldy and not completely intuitive. Conclusions - Asking front line
healthcare providers what they need and want in an online library website should be the first step in creating or redesigning
such a site. The time available to healthcare providers for doing library research is often limited, so the site needs
to be simple, clean, and fast to use.
Description
Keywords
digital libraries, health professionals, Saskatchewan, usability testing
Citation
Christine J. Neilson, Virginia Wilson. "We want it now and we want it easy" : Usability testing of an online health library for healthcare practitioners. Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association, 2011, 32:(2) 51-59, 10.5596/c11-024
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DOI
10.5596/c11-024