Introduction: The Hearing for Life (HeLe) is a novel newborn hearing screening device initially designed according to specifications of clinicians of the Philippine National Ear Institute (PNEI). Unfortunately, targeted end-users, rural health workers, had difficulty using it. This research applied the user-centered design (UCD) methodology involving rural health workers in recommending design, content, and function requirements for HeLe. Objectives: This study aims to 1) describe how UCD was applied in a time-limited and resource-constrained environment, 2) assess the usability of the design prototypes, and 3) recommend design, content, and function requirements for HeLe. Methods: This research is a descriptive study using mixed methods. Six rural health units (RHU) involved in the HeLe research program were purposively selected for the study. There were 30 participants included, five health care workers per RHU. Applying the UCD method, the study had three phases: 1) user profiling (where participants accomplished a survey questionnaire, 2) inspiration phase (focus group discussions, workflow analysis, and interviews with a technical expert were conducted), and 3) ideation phase (designing and assessment of prototypes were done). Results: Participatory methods and structured procedures (i.e., card sorting, MoSCoW matrix prototyping, etc.) were applied to help determine and prioritize user requirements and elicit user feedback. These methods were chosen considering the time and resource constraints in the RHU. The prototype's System Usability Scale (SUS) score (81.94) was higher than the SUS score previously obtained (68) from the older version of the interface. Accuracy, durability, in-app instructions, feedback, and an easily understood interface were the most requested requirements for the telemedicine device. The need for the technology to be aligned with the RHU's workflow and available resources was highlighted in the focus group discussions. Conclusions The study documents practices and lessons learned in applying UCD methodology in design and development that have been demonstrated to improve usability of the device. The involvement of the users surfaced in the design, content, and functional requirements which can guide future iterations of HeLe and contribute to better understanding of ways to develop user-friendly telemedicine devices in the Philippines. This paper emphasizes that users should be involved in the entire process and not just recipients of the technology.
User-Centered Design ; Digital Technology ; Telemedicine

This study evaluates a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Emergency Medicine designed by iEM Education Project and Lecturio, using a validated checklist to assess its usability and user experience. The MOOC received a high score for cognitive connection (>4/5), in four components including interactivity, content and resources, media use, and instructional assessment. However, for learner guidance and support, the score was 2.75/5, indicating that the course did not provide clear instructions on how learners can get support or feedback from teachers when encountering problems in the course. For affective and functional connections, all components received a high overall mean score of more than 4/5. The course was impactful to the users who were in their early clinical years, as they were actively engaged and were motivated to complete the course. However, improvements should be made to better stimulate learning by improving learner feedback and providing space for collaborative learning online. Evaluation of MOOC applying the heuristics of usability and user experience identifies specific components of online learning course apart from rating the severity of acceptance or violation of instructional design principles. The information derived from usability and user experience studies can improve design and delivery of online courses.
User-Centered Design ; Educational Technology ; Emergency Medicine