title: Applying task analysis to describe and facilitate bioinformatics tasks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document bioinformatics tasks currently per-formed by researchers in genomics and proteomics in an effort to recognize unmet informatics needs and challenges, identify system features that would enhance the performance of those tasks, and inform the development of new bioinformatics tools.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of bioinformatics tasks performed by OHSU investigators involved in genomics and proteomics research was conducted using task analysis techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four major categories emerged from 22 bioinformatics tasks reported by 6 research laboratories. These were: 1) gene analysis, 2) protein analysis, 3) biostatistical analysis, and 4) literature searching. Analysis of the data also raised the following challenging issues: 1) lack of procedural documentation, 2) use of home-grown strategies to accomplish goals, 3) individual needs and preferences, and 4) lack of awareness of existing bioinformatics tools.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Task analysis was effective at documenting bioinformatics tasks performed by researchers in the fields of genomics and proteomics, at identifying potentially desirable system features and useful bioinformatics tools, and at providing a better understanding of some of the unmet needs and challenges faced by these researchers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Informatics & Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health & Science University, OR 97239-3098, USA. tranda@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Dat
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dubay
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gorman
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hersh
mesh_terms: D019295:Computational Biology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D000078329:Workforce