Usability testing a web application to support evidence-based commissioning decisions for implementing mobile stroke units.

Journal: NPJ digital medicine
Published Date: May 9, 2025

Abstract

Commissioning of innovations in healthcare is a complex socio-technical process, ideally informed by high quality evidence. However, evidence is not always prepared and presented in a format usable for commissioning decisions. Agile methodology, combined with qualitative co-design, were used to develop a digital web application incorporating machine learning models of stroke outcomes to inform commissioning decisions for the implementation of mobile stroke units (MSUs) in England, followed by usability testing using think aloud methodology. Sixteen stakeholders involved in developing consensus on model parameters and pathways participated with data thematically analysed. Required improvements to the web application were identified and novel insights into the complexity of context-specific commissioning decisions were generated, which also informed participants' views on the viability of MSUs. This study provides empirical evidence in support of developing innovative and accessible digital dissemination methods to engage with commissioning processes and prospectively understand commissioning challenges.

Authors

  • Lisa Moseley
    Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
  • Anna Laws
    University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK and NIHR South West Peninsula Applied Research Collaboration (ARC), Exeter, UK.
  • Michael Allen
    University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK and NIHR South West Peninsula Applied Research Collaboration (ARC), Exeter, UK.
  • Gary A Ford
    Stroke Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.
  • Martin James
    University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK and NIHR South West Peninsula Applied Research Collaboration (ARC), Exeter, UK.
  • Stephen McCarthy
    Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
  • Graham McClelland
    Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
  • Laura J Park
    Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
  • Kerry Pearn
    University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK and NIHR South West Peninsula Applied Research Collaboration (ARC), Exeter, UK.
  • Daniel Phillips
    East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Cambridgeshire, UK.
  • Christopher Price
    Stroke Research Group, Population Health Sciences Institute / Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
  • Lisa Shaw
    Stroke Research Group, Population Health Sciences Institute / Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
  • Phil White
    Stroke Research Group, Population Health Sciences Institute / Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
  • David Wilson
    Stroke Service User Voice Group, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
  • Peter McMeekin
    Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
  • Jason Scott
    Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. jason.scott@northumbria.ac.uk.

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