User-centered design techniques for a computerised antibiotic decision support system in an intensive care unit

Abstract

Objective: To explore the use of user-centered design techniques for developing the requirements for an antibiotic decision support system (DSS) in an intensive care unit (ICU). Design and methodology: The setting was a 21-bed mixed medical/surgical adult ICU. This was an observational study with unstructured interviews and participatory design process. Models were constructed to demonstrate cultural, workflow, sequence/trigger events and other artefacts used to support antibiotic prescribing in the ICU. Using participatory design, a paper prototype was developed and case studies were used to simulate antibiotic prescribing for bacterial isolates. This information was used to design and pilo..