Usability Methods and Attributes Reported in Usability Studies of Mobile Apps for Health Care Education: Protocol for a Scoping Review
BackgroundE-learning technologies, including mobile apps, are used to a large extent in health care education. Mobile apps can provide extendable learning environments and motivate students for adaptive and collaborative learning outside the classroom context. Developers should design practical, eff...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2020-08-01
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| Series: | JMIR Research Protocols |
| Online Access: | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2020/8/e19072 |
| _version_ | 1818876824958009344 |
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| author | Johnson, Susanne Grødem Potrebny, Thomas Larun, Lillebeth Ciliska, Donna Olsen, Nina Rydland |
| author_facet | Johnson, Susanne Grødem Potrebny, Thomas Larun, Lillebeth Ciliska, Donna Olsen, Nina Rydland |
| author_sort | Johnson, Susanne Grødem |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundE-learning technologies, including mobile apps, are used to a large extent in health care education. Mobile apps can provide extendable learning environments and motivate students for adaptive and collaborative learning outside the classroom context. Developers should design practical, effective, and easy-to-use mobile apps. Usability testing is an important part of app development in order to understand if apps meet the needs of users.
ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to perform a scoping review of usability methods and attributes reported in usability studies of mobile apps for health care education.
MethodsThe scoping review is guided by the methodological framework developed by Arksey & O’Malley and further developed by Levac et al and Kahlil et al. The stages we will follow are as follows: (1) identifying the research question; (2) identifying relevant studies; (3) selecting studies; (4) charting the data; and (5) summarizing and reporting the results. We have developed two research questions to meet the aim of the study, which are as follows: (1) What usability methods are used to evaluate the usability of mobile apps for health care education? and (2) What usability attributes are reported in the usability studies of mobile apps for health care education? We will apply a comprehensive search of the literature, including 10 databases, a reference search, and a search for grey literature. Two review authors will independently screen articles for eligibility.
ResultsThe initial electronic database searches were completed in March 2019. The literature search identified 14,297 unique references. Following title and abstract screening, the full texts of 369 records were obtained. The scoping review is expected to be completed in spring 2021.
ConclusionsWe expect the overview of usability methods and attributes reported in usability studies of mobile apps for health care education to contribute to the knowledge base for researchers and developers. It will give an overview of the research field and provide researchers and developers with relevant and important information on the usability research area, including highlighting possible research gaps.
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/19072 |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T13:48:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-43114b6cef1740aba110d75016f8bbfc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1929-0748 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T13:48:32Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Research Protocols |
| spelling | doaj.art-43114b6cef1740aba110d75016f8bbfc2022-12-21T20:18:48ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Research Protocols1929-07482020-08-0198e1907210.2196/19072Usability Methods and Attributes Reported in Usability Studies of Mobile Apps for Health Care Education: Protocol for a Scoping ReviewJohnson, Susanne GrødemPotrebny, ThomasLarun, LillebethCiliska, DonnaOlsen, Nina RydlandBackgroundE-learning technologies, including mobile apps, are used to a large extent in health care education. Mobile apps can provide extendable learning environments and motivate students for adaptive and collaborative learning outside the classroom context. Developers should design practical, effective, and easy-to-use mobile apps. Usability testing is an important part of app development in order to understand if apps meet the needs of users. ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to perform a scoping review of usability methods and attributes reported in usability studies of mobile apps for health care education. MethodsThe scoping review is guided by the methodological framework developed by Arksey & O’Malley and further developed by Levac et al and Kahlil et al. The stages we will follow are as follows: (1) identifying the research question; (2) identifying relevant studies; (3) selecting studies; (4) charting the data; and (5) summarizing and reporting the results. We have developed two research questions to meet the aim of the study, which are as follows: (1) What usability methods are used to evaluate the usability of mobile apps for health care education? and (2) What usability attributes are reported in the usability studies of mobile apps for health care education? We will apply a comprehensive search of the literature, including 10 databases, a reference search, and a search for grey literature. Two review authors will independently screen articles for eligibility. ResultsThe initial electronic database searches were completed in March 2019. The literature search identified 14,297 unique references. Following title and abstract screening, the full texts of 369 records were obtained. The scoping review is expected to be completed in spring 2021. ConclusionsWe expect the overview of usability methods and attributes reported in usability studies of mobile apps for health care education to contribute to the knowledge base for researchers and developers. It will give an overview of the research field and provide researchers and developers with relevant and important information on the usability research area, including highlighting possible research gaps. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/19072https://www.researchprotocols.org/2020/8/e19072 |
| spellingShingle | Johnson, Susanne Grødem Potrebny, Thomas Larun, Lillebeth Ciliska, Donna Olsen, Nina Rydland Usability Methods and Attributes Reported in Usability Studies of Mobile Apps for Health Care Education: Protocol for a Scoping Review JMIR Research Protocols |
| title | Usability Methods and Attributes Reported in Usability Studies of Mobile Apps for Health Care Education: Protocol for a Scoping Review |
| title_full | Usability Methods and Attributes Reported in Usability Studies of Mobile Apps for Health Care Education: Protocol for a Scoping Review |
| title_fullStr | Usability Methods and Attributes Reported in Usability Studies of Mobile Apps for Health Care Education: Protocol for a Scoping Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Usability Methods and Attributes Reported in Usability Studies of Mobile Apps for Health Care Education: Protocol for a Scoping Review |
| title_short | Usability Methods and Attributes Reported in Usability Studies of Mobile Apps for Health Care Education: Protocol for a Scoping Review |
| title_sort | usability methods and attributes reported in usability studies of mobile apps for health care education protocol for a scoping review |
| url | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2020/8/e19072 |
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