The use of cognitive methods in analyzing clinicians' task behavior.

To ensure the acceptance and routine use of information systems in healthcare tight coupling is required between the work practices of potential endusers and the systems functionalities and presentation of these functionalities via the user interface. The application of methods from cognitive engineering during requirement analysis may contribute to the support of healthcare work practice by computer systems. We applied the think aloud method in combination with video analysis during the requirement analysis phase in designing a user interface for a patient information retrieval system. These methods provided a detailed insight in the information needs of physicians and the way in which they search through this information in preparing a patient visit. Using these insights in endusers work practices in the early phase of user interface development may lead to a better fit between physicians' work practices and the supporting computer system.