title: Usability testing of a prototype Phone Oximeter with healthcare providers in high- and low-medical resource environments.
abstract: To increase the use of pulse oximetry by capitalise on the wide availability of mobile phones, we have designed, developed and evaluated a prototype pulse oximeter interfaced to a mobile phone. Usability of this Phone Oximeter was tested as part of a rapid prototyping process. Phase 1 of the study (20 subjects) was performed in Canada. Users performed 23 tasks, while thinking aloud. Time for completion of tasks and analysis of user response to a mobile phone usability questionnaire were used to evaluate usability. Five interface improvements were made to the prototype before evaluation in Phase 2 (15 subjects) in Uganda. The lack of previous pulse oximetry experience and mobile phone use increased median (IQR [range]) time taken to perform tasks from 219 (160-247 [118-274]) s in Phase 1 to 228 (151-501 [111-2661]) s in Phase 2. User feedback was positive and overall usability high (Phase 1--82%, Phase 2--78%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada. jthudson@gmail.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nguku
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sleiman
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Karlen
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dumont
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Warriner
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ansermino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D040421:Cell Phone; D056902:Clinical Alarms; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D009873:Operating Rooms; D010092:Oximetry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012984:Software; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014454:Uganda; D014584:User-Computer Interface