Presentation
DH16 - Supporting Nurse’s Unseen Decision-Making Needs: A Human-Centered Innovation Case Study
SessionPoster Session 1
DescriptionBackground
In healthcare, it is well understood that provider decisions impact patient outcomes, yet there is a need to embrace the fact that nursing decision-making is also pivotal to patient outcomes. Current healthcare technologies often lack the integration of human factors (HF) and human-centered design (HCD) principles, focusing more on delivering solutions to obvious issues while overlooking the specific needs of frontline staff, including nurses (Tulk Jesso et al., 2022; Babalola et al., 2024). This gap results in inefficient workflows, decision-making delays, and burnout (Ratwani, 2020; Tsai et al., 2020). Integrating HF and HCD into platform design can address these challenges, enhancing nurses’ access to evidence-based information, supporting real-time decision-making, and improving overall patient outcomes. By focusing on nurse-centered technological needs, the designers can support nurses in their critical work. To this aim, we are presenting a case study in which we partner with nurses to create innovations that can be effectively translated into real-world work for improved worker experiences and patient outcomes.
Purpose
This study aims to elucidate nurse decision support needs and produce an early-stage prototype for a novel information and research platform for nurses (tentatively named NurseHub) which can offer streamlined access to healthcare information, up-to-date recommendations, and real-time decision support, while also facilitating broader nurse collaboration to foster improved patient outcomes through empowerment of the nursing workforce.
Approach
After completing an NSF regional I-Corps course, we discovered that nurses need and seek information outside of the EHR to guide their decision making, including from peers and other experienced nurses. We believe that an online platform can aid nurses in this information gathering process, and therefore we began to conduct HCD research to further investigate what nurses would desire in such a platform.
The platform we envisioned is a comprehensive digital hub integrating community forums, research portals, educational resources, and mental health support tailored specifically to the needs of professional nurses, nursing students, and nursing researchers.
The study follows a user-centered design method called the TripTech method (Séguin et al., 2019, O’Neill et al., 2024), which blends user research, need-based design concepts, and early-stage prototyping. The TripTech method was employed in two phases which include the “need-based survey phase” and the “need-based design concepts focus-group phase.” Participants for this study are professional nurses with varying levels of experience and expertise in patient care. This work is overseen by [anonymous org] IRB.
Phase 1- need-based survey: Based on insights from the background research, sixteen key need statements were developed to reflect hypothesized nurse needs in terms of “access to information”, “peer support”, and “job satisfaction”. The need statements would be evaluated through a survey wherein participants would rank each statement based on the frequency of occurrence and importance of need.
Phase 2 - need-based design concepts focus group: Results from the survey will be used to create early design concepts, consisting of three-panel storyboards wherein the proposed designs would be depicted in addressing nurse needs. These concepts will be presented and evaluated via a focus group.
Analysis: Quantitative data from surveys will be analyzed to prioritize needs and assess the perceived usefulness and desirability of proposed design concepts. A qualitative thematic analysis will be conducted on focus group data.
Preliminary Findings
Initial findings from background research suggest that nurses need a centralized, real-time resource platform that could significantly improve nurses’ access to evidence-based and up-to-date healthcare information, reduce time spent searching through multiple databases, and enhance peer collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
These preliminary findings guided the development of this study's need-based statements and in turn the initial design concepts for the nurse-centered research platform. Phases 1 & 2 will be conducted in early November. In addition to presenting quantitative and qualitative results, we will also show mock-ups of the early phase of designing the web platform.
Future Work
Planned activities for the second phase include:
a. Need statement survey distribution: A broader survey will quantify the frequency and importance of identified needs across a larger nursing population.
b. The design concept developed will be evaluated based on prioritized needs.
c. Focus group: Structured discussions will evaluate and further refine the design concepts.
d. Prototype development: The final design will be developed as part of the [anonymized group's] initiative. Later we will assess the impact on decision-making and patient outcomes.
Discussion
This study demonstrates the value of applying HF and HCD principles in the development of technology solutions for healthcare. By deeply engaging with nurses throughout the design process, the study aims to create a platform that truly meets their needs and enhances their ability to provide high-quality patient care.
The preliminary findings from the background research highlight the complex information needs of nurses and the potential for a well-designed digital platform to address multiple challenges simultaneously. The desire for streamlined access to up-to-date information, peer collaboration, and mental health support highlights the multifaceted nature of nursing practice and the importance of holistic solutions.
By leveraging the TripTech method, studies can rapidly iterate on design concepts while maintaining a strong focus on user needs. This approach allows for balancing innovation with practicality, ensuring that the resulting platform will be both technologically advanced and highly usable in real-world healthcare settings.
As the study moves forward with the development of the high-tech platform, it is anticipated that uncovered additional insights will not only inform this specific project but also contribute to the broader understanding of how to effectively design and implement technology solutions in healthcare environments. The lessons learned from this process will provide valuable guidance for future initiatives aimed at supporting healthcare professionals and improving patient outcomes through the thoughtful application of HF and HCD principles.
References
Babalola, G. T., Gaston, J.-M., Trombetta, J., & Tulk Jesso, S. (2024). A systematic review of collaborative robots for nurses: where are we now, and where is the evidence? Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/frobt.2024.1398140
O’Neill, K., Doran, M., Davie, K., & Andreano, A. (2023). Using Human-Centered Design to Decrease the Risk of Toileting in Hospitals for Patients and Clinicians. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting.
Ratwani, R. M. (2020). Electronic Health Records and Improved Patient Care: Opportunities for Applied Psychology. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 26(4), 359–365. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721417700691
Séguin, J. A., Scharff, A., & Pedersen, K. (2019). Triptech: A Method for Evaluating Early Design Concepts. CHI EA ’19: Extended Abstracts of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1145/3290607.3299061
Tsai, C. H., Eghdam, A., Davoody, N., Wright, G., Flowerday, S., & Koch, S. (2020). Effects of electronic health record implementation and barriers to adoption and use: A scoping review and qualitative analysis of the content. Life, 10(12), 1–27. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7761950/
Tulk Jesso, S., Kelliher, A., Sanghavi, H., Martin, T., & Henrickson Parker, S. (2022). Inclusion of Clinicians in the Development and Evaluation of Clinical Artificial Intelligence Tools: A Systematic Literature Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.830345
In healthcare, it is well understood that provider decisions impact patient outcomes, yet there is a need to embrace the fact that nursing decision-making is also pivotal to patient outcomes. Current healthcare technologies often lack the integration of human factors (HF) and human-centered design (HCD) principles, focusing more on delivering solutions to obvious issues while overlooking the specific needs of frontline staff, including nurses (Tulk Jesso et al., 2022; Babalola et al., 2024). This gap results in inefficient workflows, decision-making delays, and burnout (Ratwani, 2020; Tsai et al., 2020). Integrating HF and HCD into platform design can address these challenges, enhancing nurses’ access to evidence-based information, supporting real-time decision-making, and improving overall patient outcomes. By focusing on nurse-centered technological needs, the designers can support nurses in their critical work. To this aim, we are presenting a case study in which we partner with nurses to create innovations that can be effectively translated into real-world work for improved worker experiences and patient outcomes.
Purpose
This study aims to elucidate nurse decision support needs and produce an early-stage prototype for a novel information and research platform for nurses (tentatively named NurseHub) which can offer streamlined access to healthcare information, up-to-date recommendations, and real-time decision support, while also facilitating broader nurse collaboration to foster improved patient outcomes through empowerment of the nursing workforce.
Approach
After completing an NSF regional I-Corps course, we discovered that nurses need and seek information outside of the EHR to guide their decision making, including from peers and other experienced nurses. We believe that an online platform can aid nurses in this information gathering process, and therefore we began to conduct HCD research to further investigate what nurses would desire in such a platform.
The platform we envisioned is a comprehensive digital hub integrating community forums, research portals, educational resources, and mental health support tailored specifically to the needs of professional nurses, nursing students, and nursing researchers.
The study follows a user-centered design method called the TripTech method (Séguin et al., 2019, O’Neill et al., 2024), which blends user research, need-based design concepts, and early-stage prototyping. The TripTech method was employed in two phases which include the “need-based survey phase” and the “need-based design concepts focus-group phase.” Participants for this study are professional nurses with varying levels of experience and expertise in patient care. This work is overseen by [anonymous org] IRB.
Phase 1- need-based survey: Based on insights from the background research, sixteen key need statements were developed to reflect hypothesized nurse needs in terms of “access to information”, “peer support”, and “job satisfaction”. The need statements would be evaluated through a survey wherein participants would rank each statement based on the frequency of occurrence and importance of need.
Phase 2 - need-based design concepts focus group: Results from the survey will be used to create early design concepts, consisting of three-panel storyboards wherein the proposed designs would be depicted in addressing nurse needs. These concepts will be presented and evaluated via a focus group.
Analysis: Quantitative data from surveys will be analyzed to prioritize needs and assess the perceived usefulness and desirability of proposed design concepts. A qualitative thematic analysis will be conducted on focus group data.
Preliminary Findings
Initial findings from background research suggest that nurses need a centralized, real-time resource platform that could significantly improve nurses’ access to evidence-based and up-to-date healthcare information, reduce time spent searching through multiple databases, and enhance peer collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
These preliminary findings guided the development of this study's need-based statements and in turn the initial design concepts for the nurse-centered research platform. Phases 1 & 2 will be conducted in early November. In addition to presenting quantitative and qualitative results, we will also show mock-ups of the early phase of designing the web platform.
Future Work
Planned activities for the second phase include:
a. Need statement survey distribution: A broader survey will quantify the frequency and importance of identified needs across a larger nursing population.
b. The design concept developed will be evaluated based on prioritized needs.
c. Focus group: Structured discussions will evaluate and further refine the design concepts.
d. Prototype development: The final design will be developed as part of the [anonymized group's] initiative. Later we will assess the impact on decision-making and patient outcomes.
Discussion
This study demonstrates the value of applying HF and HCD principles in the development of technology solutions for healthcare. By deeply engaging with nurses throughout the design process, the study aims to create a platform that truly meets their needs and enhances their ability to provide high-quality patient care.
The preliminary findings from the background research highlight the complex information needs of nurses and the potential for a well-designed digital platform to address multiple challenges simultaneously. The desire for streamlined access to up-to-date information, peer collaboration, and mental health support highlights the multifaceted nature of nursing practice and the importance of holistic solutions.
By leveraging the TripTech method, studies can rapidly iterate on design concepts while maintaining a strong focus on user needs. This approach allows for balancing innovation with practicality, ensuring that the resulting platform will be both technologically advanced and highly usable in real-world healthcare settings.
As the study moves forward with the development of the high-tech platform, it is anticipated that uncovered additional insights will not only inform this specific project but also contribute to the broader understanding of how to effectively design and implement technology solutions in healthcare environments. The lessons learned from this process will provide valuable guidance for future initiatives aimed at supporting healthcare professionals and improving patient outcomes through the thoughtful application of HF and HCD principles.
References
Babalola, G. T., Gaston, J.-M., Trombetta, J., & Tulk Jesso, S. (2024). A systematic review of collaborative robots for nurses: where are we now, and where is the evidence? Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/frobt.2024.1398140
O’Neill, K., Doran, M., Davie, K., & Andreano, A. (2023). Using Human-Centered Design to Decrease the Risk of Toileting in Hospitals for Patients and Clinicians. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting.
Ratwani, R. M. (2020). Electronic Health Records and Improved Patient Care: Opportunities for Applied Psychology. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 26(4), 359–365. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721417700691
Séguin, J. A., Scharff, A., & Pedersen, K. (2019). Triptech: A Method for Evaluating Early Design Concepts. CHI EA ’19: Extended Abstracts of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1145/3290607.3299061
Tsai, C. H., Eghdam, A., Davoody, N., Wright, G., Flowerday, S., & Koch, S. (2020). Effects of electronic health record implementation and barriers to adoption and use: A scoping review and qualitative analysis of the content. Life, 10(12), 1–27. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7761950/
Tulk Jesso, S., Kelliher, A., Sanghavi, H., Martin, T., & Henrickson Parker, S. (2022). Inclusion of Clinicians in the Development and Evaluation of Clinical Artificial Intelligence Tools: A Systematic Literature Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.830345
Event Type
Poster Presentation
TimeMonday, March 314:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
LocationFrontenac Foyer
Digital Health (DH)
Simulation and Education (SE)
Hospital Environments (HE)
Medical and Drug Delivery Devices (MDD)
Patient Safety and Research Initiatives (PS)