Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Although systematic reviews are a key resource for healthcare decision making, their format and delivery are not optimised to engage target audiences. The effectiveness of systematic reviews in enabling evidence informed healthcare decision making may be enhanced by tailoring for specific audiences. Web-based repositories of tailored systematic review summaries could be used to support knowledge transfer and exchange amongst members of communities of practice.
Objectives: Our objective was to develop an online platform to support ‘knowledge communities’ to create resource hubs with systematic reviews and related information and interaction, specifically tailored for effective decision making.
Methods: We engaged user experience (UX) designers and software developers to design and build an online systematic review database using an ‘agile’ software development approach. The UX designers interviewed and worked with guideline developers, clinicians and consumers to identify evidence needs and design a user friendly interface with tailored review summaries, contextual commentary and interactive features. Working in iterative cycles, an initial prototype was built using PHP, and subsequently revised and refined in response to UX and user interface (UI) testing.
Results: Several features were identified which were proposed as mechanisms to improve the delivery of systematic reviews and enhance decision making. Based on these findings a web-based searchable database with a simple user interface was developed: EvidenceMap.org. This platform includes features such as quality and applicability assessments, expert commentaries, discussion forums, and access to full-text articles where available. Evidence maps are currently being developed in two domains: neurotrauma and health policy.
Conclusions: Detailed user experience design can contribute to the online delivery of systematic review products and may lead to improved end user engagement and greater use of evidence in healthcare decision making.
Objectives: Our objective was to develop an online platform to support ‘knowledge communities’ to create resource hubs with systematic reviews and related information and interaction, specifically tailored for effective decision making.
Methods: We engaged user experience (UX) designers and software developers to design and build an online systematic review database using an ‘agile’ software development approach. The UX designers interviewed and worked with guideline developers, clinicians and consumers to identify evidence needs and design a user friendly interface with tailored review summaries, contextual commentary and interactive features. Working in iterative cycles, an initial prototype was built using PHP, and subsequently revised and refined in response to UX and user interface (UI) testing.
Results: Several features were identified which were proposed as mechanisms to improve the delivery of systematic reviews and enhance decision making. Based on these findings a web-based searchable database with a simple user interface was developed: EvidenceMap.org. This platform includes features such as quality and applicability assessments, expert commentaries, discussion forums, and access to full-text articles where available. Evidence maps are currently being developed in two domains: neurotrauma and health policy.
Conclusions: Detailed user experience design can contribute to the online delivery of systematic review products and may lead to improved end user engagement and greater use of evidence in healthcare decision making.