Learning from usability testing of an arts-based knowledge translation tool for parents of a child with asthma.
Mandy M Archibald, Shannon D Scott
PMID 31660190WHAT IT FOUND
Parents of children with asthma rated a story-based asthma eBook as clear, easy to use and relatable.
It may help them discuss asthma with their child, but this small usability pilot did not test whether it improves asthma control.
Key findings
01Eighteen parents completed the questionnaire; mean ratings were 8.27 for information clarity and 9.04 for ease of understanding on 0 to 10 scales.
02Five interviewed parents said the eBook was useful for reading with their child and could open a dialogue about asthma.
03Two general usability incidents were reported: 80% of participants did not notice the table of contents icon, and some did not notice or access important information icons.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was small and convenience based: 18 parents completed the questionnaire and 5 completed interviews. Parents were recruited from two emergency departments, so their views may not represent families in other settings. The quantitative arm had no control group and was not randomly sampled, so it cannot show that the eBook caused the higher knowledge or confidence ratings. The study tested usability, not effectiveness on asthma outcomes. Only one eBook prototype was used for the questionnaire, although parents later commented on preferences among prototypes. Open-ended questionnaire responses were infrequently completed. The study did not conduct real-time, in-person usability testing in a naturalistic environment. Many participants did not notice the table of contents icon, and some did not notice or access important information icons, so embedded information may be missed.
Declared interests
The authors reported no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the eBook improves asthma control or clinical outcomes. This was a small usability pilot without a control group, so it cannot show that the eBook caused the higher self-rated knowledge or confidence.