Measuring cognitive load using eye tracking to evaluate the usability of an electronic patient intake form

Personal health records (PHRs) provide patients secure and confidential access to their personal health information and carry an array of potential benefits such as increased patient engagement and improved health outcomes. Unfortunately, poor system usability has been recognized to be a significant barrier to patients’ adoption and use of PHRs. In this mixed methods research study, we will evaluate the usability of an online patient intake form intended to be part of cardiovascular patients’ PHR at Nebraska Medicine. Usability will be assessed from the perspective of cognitive load using validated measures including eye tracking and the NASA Task Load Index questionnaire. Both eye tracking data and subjective questionnaires have been chosen to be used in tandem in order to support the predicted cognitive load with objective, real-time and subjective, post-hoc data. This will provide deeper, more accurate measurements of cognitive load. The System Usability Scale will then be administered, which is a valid and reliable tool for measuring overall system usability. These data will be integrated with qualitative interview responses to further explain usability issues and support conclusions drawn from the cognitive load measurements. To complete this exploratory study, a goal of 15 cardiovascular patients from Nebraska Medicine will be recruited. The results of this research will inform efforts for improving the usability of this online patient intake form and will serve as guidance for future usability studies of health information technology systems