Usability testing a web application to support evidence-based commissioning decisions for implementing mobile stroke units
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
- Anna S. E. Laws (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2145-0487)
- Christopher Price (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3566-3157)
- Phil White (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6007-6013)
- Peter McMeekin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0946-7224)
- Daniel Phillips
- Stephen McCarthy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5761-7162)
- Kerry Pearn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2786-4426)
- Graham McClelland (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4502-5821)
- D.R. Wilson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5100-5317)
- Lisa Shaw (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3435-9519)
- Gary A. Ford (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8719-4968)
- Jason Scott (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7031-2171)
- Laura J Park
- Michael Allen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8746-9957)
- Martin James (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6065-6018)
- Lisa Moseley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8119-4626)
Institutions
- University of Exeter (GB)
- Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (GB)
- Northumbria University (GB)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility (GB)
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust (GB)
- East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (GB)
- Newcastle University (GB)
- Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Digital Medicine
- Published
- 2025-05-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-025-01691-2
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Health Policy Implementation Science
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.82
Funders
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- Department of Health and Social Care
- Health and Social Care Delivery Research