Evaluating Usability of Radiology Information Systems in Hospitals of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Radiology information systems (RISs) are increasingly used in health care. Therefore, Information system designers need to continually assess them. Nilsen evaluation is one of the methods that understand usability problems with the least time, cost and resources. Aim: The aim of present study is to evaluate the usability of RISs in hospitals of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study (2015) that uses Expert Pointview evaluation method to evaluate the usability of radiology information system used in 3 hospitals of Tabriz city (Emam Reza Hospital, Behbod Hospital and Shams Hospital). The data are collected using a standard checklist based of Nielsen evaluation method. In this study, usability of RISs was discussed and investigated based on the number of components observed from Nielsen principles and problems of usability based on the number of non-observed componentsas well as non-existent or unrecognizable components. findings: by evaluation of RISs in each of the Emam Reza Hospital, Behbod Hospital and Shams Hospital, total numbers of observed components were obtained as 173, 202 and 196, respectively. Finally, by averaging rate of RISs usability in three hospitals, it was concluded that the usability of RISs in the studied population, on average and with observing 190 components of the 291 components related to the 13 principles of Nielsen is 65.41 percent. Furthermore, problems of usability were obtained as 26.35%. Discussion and Conclusion: The established and visible nature of some components such as response time of application, visual feedbacks, colors, view and design and arrangement of software objects cause more attention to these components as principal components in designing UI software. Also, incorrect analysis before system design leads to a lack of attention to secondary needs like Help software and security issues.