Usability of a mobile application supporting health professionals on vancomycin dosing calculation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0367.2024v45n1p35

Keywords:

Mobile applications, Vancomycin, Drug Dosage Calculation, Usability Test, Health professionals

Abstract

The CalcVAN app was developed to assist healthcare professionals in optimizing vancomycin doses for hospitalized patients. However, the usability test before making it available for clinical practice is essential. Therefore, the study aims to evaluate the usability of the app from the perspective of health professionals. A descriptive study, a heuristic evaluation of the usability of a mobile application was conducted. Healthcare professionals with expertise in antimicrobial management and vancomycin were invited to participate. The validated Smartphone Usability questionnaiRE (SURE) was used to measure usability through an online questionnaire. Twenty-one experts participated in the study, with a mean age of 32.6 years, mostly of them women (n = 14, 66.7%), pharmacists (n = 13, 61.9%), with postgraduate education (n = 10, 47.6%), working in private or public hospitals (n = 15, 71.4%), and a mean experience of 9.7 years. Overall usability score for CalcVAN was 83 points, ranging from a minimum of 78 to a maximum of 90 points. The usability test registered within the last two levels, 70 and 80, with users expressing strongly and fully agreed, indicating that the app demonstrates satisfactory usability. CalcVAN achieved satisfactory usability, fulfilling the needs and requirements of health professionals, proving to be efficient in performing the intended functions.

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Author Biographies

Thais Cristina Amorim Estevão Soares, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ

Degree in Pharmacy from the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro.

Tácio de Mendonça Lima, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF

PhD in Sciences (Drugs and Medicines) from the Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Adjunct Professor of the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Administration of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro

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Published

2024-04-26

How to Cite

1.
Soares TCAE, Lima T de M. Usability of a mobile application supporting health professionals on vancomycin dosing calculation. Semin. Cienc. Biol. Saude [Internet]. 2024 Apr. 26 [cited 2024 May 19];45(1):35-44. Available from: https://ojs.uel.br/revistas/uel/index.php/seminabio/article/view/49583

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