title: Usability Evaluation of a Web-Based Symptom Monitoring Application for Heart Failure.
abstract: Symptom recognition and reporting by patients with heart failure are critical to avoid hospitalization. This project evaluated a patient symptom tracking application. Fourteen end users (nine patients, five clinicians) from a Midwestern Veterans Affairs Medical Center evaluated the website using a think aloud protocol. A structured observation protocol was used to assess success or failure for each task. Measures included task time, success, and satisfaction. Patients had a mean age of 70 years; clinicians averaged 42 years in age. Patients took 9.3 min and clinicians took less than 3 min per scenario. Most patients needed some assistance, but few patients were completely unable to complete some tasks. Clinicians demonstrated few problems navigating the site. Patient System Usability Scale item scores ranged from 2.0 to 3.6; clinician item scores ranged from 1.8 to 4.0. Further work is needed to determine whether using the web-based tool improves symptom recognition and reporting.
authors: Center for Comprehensive Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Healthcare System, IA, USA Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA bonnie.wakefield@va.gov.
authors: Bonnie
authors: B
authors: Wakefield
authors: Center for Comprehensive Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Healthcare System, IA, USA.
authors: Kassie
authors: K
authors: Pham
authors: Center for Comprehensive Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Healthcare System, IA, USA.
authors: Melody
authors: M
authors: Scherubel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs
keywords: heart failure; symptom monitoring; usability