552
Copyright © 2010, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited.
Chapter 26
Use of Clinical Simulations to
Evaluate the Impact of Health
Information Systems and
Ubiquitous Computing Devices
Upon Health Professional Work
Elizabeth M. Borycki
University of Victoria, Canada
Andre W. Kushniruk
University of Victoria, Canada
ABsTRAcT
Health information systems, and in particular ubiquitous computing devices (UCD), promise to revo-
lutionize healthcare. However, before this can be widely achieved UCD need to be adapted to ft the
information, workfow and cognitive needs of users of such devices. Indeed systems and devices that
are not developed appropriately may inadvertently introduce error in healthcare (“technology-induced
error”). This chapter describes an approach to applying clinical simulations to evaluate the impact of
health information systems and ubiquitous computing devices on health professional work. The approach
allows for an assessment of “cognitive-socio-technical ft” and the ability to modify and improve systems
and devices before they are released into widespread use. The application of realistic clinical simulations
is detailed, including the stages of development of such simulations (from the creation of representative
clinical environments to subject selection and data collection approaches). In order to ensure the success
and widespread adoption of UCD, it is argued that greater emphasis will need to be placed on ensuring
such systems and devices have a high degree of ft with user’s cognitive and work processes.
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-61520-777-0.ch026