Abstract 2808
Background
Eir Version 3 (V3) is an electronic tool for registration administration of patient reported outcome measures (Eir-Patient) that immediately presents patient scores on the physiciańs computer (Eir-Doctor). Perceived usability is an important determinant for successful implementation.The objective was to assess the number, type, and severity of usability issues of the Eir-Patient and Eir-Doctor modules respectively, when used by cancer patients and physicians in three different settings: 1) outpatient clinics, 2) at home, and 3) at the general practitioner’s office.
Methods
A usability evaluation using observations, think-aloud sessions, individual and focus group interviews in patients and their physicians was conducted. Identified usability issues were graded on a severity scale from 1 (irritant) to 4 (unusable).
Results
Overall, 73 Eir registrations were performed by 37 patients, and used by 17 physicians in clinical consultations. All patients were able to complete the Eir-Patient symptom registration, which was perceived easy. Seventy-two usability issues were identified. None of them were graded as unusable. 62% of the identified usability issues in Eir-Patient were graded as irritant (grade 1), 18% and 20% as moderate or severe (grade 2-3), none as unusable. For the Eir-Doctor module, 46% of the identified usability issues were graded as irritant, 36% as moderate and 18% as severe. Observations of physician consultations showed that Eir-Doctor was intuitive and easy to use.
Conclusions
Patients and physicians found EirV3 easy to use. Results indicate that EirV3 is usable for a heterogeneous population of cancer patients, in different settings. In the subsequent Eir-version, issues in the severe and moderate categories have been changed, to optimize the usability and feasibility of using real time PROMs in clinical practice.
Clinical trial identification
Legal entity responsible for the study
Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU.
Funding
Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and Regional Research Funds in Norway, Mid-Norway.
Editorial Acknowledgement
Disclosure
S. Kaasa, J.H. Loge: Eir Solutions AS was established in 2015 with Kaasa, Loge and NTNU Technology Transfer AS/Andersen as shareholders. No income, dividend or financial benefits are related to the work presented here, nor in relation to Eir in any way. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.