Evaluation of Software Requirement Patterns for Electronic Health Record Systems

Context: An Electronic Health Record System (EHR-S) captures, stores, presents, transmits, or prints health information that allows the individualization of a patient. An EHR-S can be classified into one or more categories, depending on its scope (e.g., an electronic prescription system). Problem: Despite existing several software requirements in common between these categories, much effort and time may be spent in the development of such complex systems, specially in requirements engineering. Solution: We developed a Software Requirement Patterns Catalogue (SRPC), which groups analogous behaviors and services from EHR-S categories into well-defined templates that can be reused in future specifications. IS Theory: We used Representation Theory to elaborate on software patterns representing EHR-S requirements. Method: Fifty-five undergraduate students produced EHR-S requirements specifications with and without SRPC support. Quantitatively, the completeness, scope, and consistency of these documents were evaluated, as well as the SRPC’s usefulness and ease of use. Positive and negative aspects of the SRPC were also qualitatively analyzed. Results: The SRPC helps build more complete and correct specifications and conveys a perception of shortened elicitation and specification times. Contributions: A quantity-quality evaluation of an SRPC for EHR-S indicates requirement patterns improve the quality of specifications and save effort and time.