Usability evaluation of electronic prescribing systems from physician' perspective: A case study from southern Iran

Introduction

The evaluation of e-prescribing systems' usability is crucial as they are integral to the quality of healthcare services. This study evaluates the usability of three e-prescribing systems and examines the impact of individual factors on system usability.

Method

The objective of this descriptive study was to assess the usability of e-prescribing systems (EP, Dinad, and Shafa) as perceived by 105 physicians from three clinics at Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences in Bandar Abbas, Iran. The data was collected using the 2020 edition of the Isometric Questionnaire 9241/110, which comprises of seven axes and 66 questions. The participants were asked to rate their opinions on a 5-point Likert scale, with options ranging from completely disagree [1] to completely agree [5].

Results

EP, Dinad, and Shafa received average scores of 3.45, 3.32, and 3.24, respectively. Self-descriptiveness and User Error Tolerance axes were rated the highest ratings, with average scores of 3.60 and 3.48. Conversely, conformity and suitability axes received the lowest ratings, with average scores of 3.19 and 3.22, respectively. Upon evaluating the usability axes, the EP significantly improved controllability and user engagement compared to other systems. The usability of Dinad and Shafa in the Gynecology clinic was significantly higher than the two other clinics. Also, older physicians with more work experience rated the Shafa significantly higher than two other systems.

Conclusion

The evaluated systems had average usability. although there was no statistically significant difference in the usability of these systems, the evaluation of dimensions revealed unique strengths in each system.