Background

This paper presents two approaches to the usability assessment of health informatics interventions. The potential clinical impact of information support technologies can be modeled in interactive web based experiments. An interactive web experiment to study the impact of computerized information support on prescribing decisions has been conducted. A significant improvement in prescribers ’ decision quality has been demonstrated, however, schema driven decision-making under time pressure may preclude clinicians from using decision support. Field usability testing of a hand-held personal communication device is detailed. In vitro and vivo studies provide information about clinicians ’ behaviour and may direct secondary implementation strategies to support the dissemination of evidence