Testing Usability and Acceptance of the Electronic Patient Visit Assessment (ePVA) for Head and Neck Cancer: An Iterative Process (S873)

1.Describe usability testing of a web-based patient-report application for assessment of symptoms.2.Evaluate the effectiveness of the usability testing and refinement of the electronic Patient Visit Assessment by the study population. Patients with head and neck cancer experience substantial symptom burden. A clinically useful tool is needed to evaluate symptoms for early detection of symptoms and functional limitations. Therefore, we developed a web-based electronic patient visit assessment (ePVA) for head and neck cancer. Using an iterative process to identify issues related to usability of the tool is imperative for the implementation of the ePVA in clinical settings. 1) Determine usability of the ePVA in head and neck cancer, and 2) refine the ePVA system over time based on patients’ suggestions from the iterative process. Study design consisted of usability testing using the Think Aloud technique to guide the iterative process to refine the ePVA based on participants’ evaluations. After informed consent, 30 participants with head and neck cancer (Mean age = 61, 67% Male, 70% White, 83% stage IV cancer) completed the ePVA using iPads while thinking aloud about ease of use. Following ePVA completion, participants answered a valid and reliable survey about usability. All patient conversations were recorded, transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Majority of participants reported symptoms (oral symptoms: 93%, fibrosis: 60%, fatigue: 60%); 90% strongly agreed/agreed that the system was easy to use and 80% were very satisfied. Only minor usability problems were reported, decreasing in frequency over the study period. No usability problems were reported by the last 3 participants who completed the ePVA. Based on patients’ suggestions from the iterative process, refinement of the ePVA included increased touch sensitivity and customized error messages to improve ease of use. Study findings indicate that the ePVA is easy to use and has good acceptance by the study population.