92492 Design and Evaluation in Digital Health

Description

It is well accepted in all industries that technology needs to fit well with human characteristics, however the human–technology interchange in health care is ubiquitous and supports many configurations. As more and more kinds of increasingly complex digital health applications are integrated, interoperability in the health environment is vital. Poorly designed technology can result in errors, lower productivity, user frustration and even removal of the system, while poorly deployed technology systems can lead to unpredictable outcomes and unintended consequences. It is well known in health care that clinicians develop workarounds when technology interferes with their workflow, which are not ideal or a long-term solution. This subject exposes students to the fit between individuals, tasks and technology, starting with the system life cycle and ending with usability evaluation. Firstly, it is recognised that users must be an early and continuous focal point during the design of any digital health application. Secondly, the design process needs to be iterative, allowing for evaluation and modification of recognised problems. Lastly, formal evaluation of all digital health applications in relation to efficiency, effectiveness and satisfaction should occur. Students gain an appreciation of how to obtain user requirements, create an implementation roadmap, devise a benefits realisation framework and facilitate clinician buy-in for any digital health application.