A Cognitive & Usability Study of Speech and Language Pathologist Interfaces
Applying Human Factors to Improve EHR Usability
Institution: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Focus: Human Factors Integration | Tools: HTA, SUS, Adobe XD
Reducing Clinical Burnout Through Human-Centered EHR Design.
Electronic Health Reporting (EHR) systems in Speech and Language Pathology (SLP) settings are prone to design inefficiencies that contribute to administrative burden and clinical errors. “Click fatigue,” oversaturated interfaces, and poor layout design hinder usability and create barriers to effective care. This case study explores how Human Factors methods can be applied to mitigate these problems through better design.
The research approach is conducted in four stages.
Data Collection
Data collection through functionality questionnaire for domain-specific insight.
HTA Prototype
Developed a prototype (TheraSpeech) based on Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA).
Interface Evaluation
Participants evaluated both TheraSpeech and Therapy Corner interfaces.
Analysis Application
Usability tested with the System Usability Scale (SUS), followed by paired t-test analysis
SUS Scores Are In
TheraSpeech scored significantly higher on SUS scores than Therapy Corner (p = 0.00796)
Brain Relief
SLPs experienced less task load and better cognitive engagement using HTA-informed designs
Interface Intelligence
TheraSpeech interface supported decision-making and reduced user-reported errors
Supportive Navigation
Participants reported clearer layouts and more intuitive task flow in TheraSpeech
The redesign applied insights from task analysis and usability testing to reduce complexity, improve flow, and enhance SLP decision-making support.
This research demonstrates the value of cognitive engineering methods such as HTA and usability testing for designing more effective EHR systems. Incorporating Human Factors Integration (HFI) can reduce cognitive load, minimize error likelihood, and improve satisfaction among clinical users like SLPs. Future exploration may include Cognitive Work Analysis and SHERPA models to enhance reliability and user safety in healthcare interface design.
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