Evaluating the usability of public health data dashboards as information sources for professionals and the public: Findings from a case study with domain experts.

BACKGROUND: Recently, public health data dashboards have gained popularity as trusted, up-to-date sources of health information. However, their usability and usefulness may be limited.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the requirements of usable public health data dashboards through a case study with domain experts.

METHODS: Paired-user virtual data collection sessions were conducted with 20 experts in three steps: (1) a monitored use of an existing dashboard to complete tasks and discuss the usability problems, (2) a survey rating user experience, and (3) an interview regarding the users and use cases. Data analysis included quantitative analysis of the survey findings and thematic analysis of the audio transcripts.

RESULTS: Analyses yielded several findings: (1) familiar charts with clear legends and labels should be used to focus users' attention on the content; (2) charts should be organized in a simple and consistent layout; (3) contextual information should be provided to help with interpretations; (4) data limitations should be clearly communicated; (5) guidance should be provided to lead user interactions.

DISCUSSION: The identified requirements guide health librarians and information professionals in evaluating public health data dashboards.

CONCLUSION: Public health data dashboards should be designed based on users' needs to provide useful up-to-date information sources for health information consumers.