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Design characteristics that affect speed of information access and clarity of presentation in an electronic neuroanatomy atlas
Author(s) -
Stewart P.A.,
Nathan N.,
NyhofYoung J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
clinical anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1098-2353
pISSN - 0897-3806
DOI - 10.1002/ca.20250
Subject(s) - atlas (anatomy) , information retrieval , glossary , clarity , brain atlas , neuroanatomy , data presentation , computer science , presentation (obstetrics) , medicine , world wide web , medical physics , artificial intelligence , documentation , philosophy , linguistics , biochemistry , chemistry , radiology , psychiatry , anatomy , programming language
Functional Neuroanatomy , an interactive electronic neuroanatomical atlas, was designed for first year medical students. Medical students have much to learn in a limited time; therefore a major goal in the atlas design was that it facilitate rapid, accurate information retrieval. To assess this feature, we designed a testing scenario in which students who had never taken a neuroanatomy course were asked to complete two equivalent tests, one using the electronic atlas and one using a comparable hard copy atlas, in a limited period of time. The tests were too long to be completed in the time allotted, so test scores were measures of how quickly correct information could be retrieved from each source. Statistical analysis of the data showed that the tests were of equal difficulty and that accurate information retrieval was significantly faster using the electronic atlas when compared with the hard copy atlas ( P < 0.0001). Post‐test focus groups ( n = 4) allowed us to infer that the following design features contributed to rapid information access: the number of structures in the database was limited to those that are relevant to a practicing physician; all of the program modules were presented in both text and image form on the index screen, which doubled as a site map; pages were layered electronically such that information was hidden until requested, structures available on each page were listed alphabetically and could be accessed by clicking on their name; and an illustrated glossary was provided and equipped with a search engine. Clin. Anat. 20:93–110, 2007. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.