In this paper, we examine how users interact with a computer-based infusion device adapted for terbutaline infusion to treat preterm labor in women experiencing high-risk pregnancies. This study examines: (1) the HCI deficiencies in the device as related to this context of use, (2) how the device characteristics increase the potential for error, and (3) the tailoring strategies developed by users to insulate themselves from failure. Interviews with nurses and bench tests of the behavior of the infusion device in different conditions identified several HCI deficiencies: complex and arbitrary sequences of operation, mode errors due to poor differentiation of multiple operating modes intended for different contexts, ambiguous alarms, getting lost in multiple displays, and poor feedback on device state and behavior.

This research focused on the design of a decision-support system to assist blood bankers in identifying alloantibodies in patients' blood. It was hypothesized that critiquing, a technique in which a computer monitors human performance for errors, would be an effective role for such a decision-support system if the error monitoring was unobtrusive and if the critiquing was in response to both intermediate and final conclusions made by the user. A prototype critiquing system monitored medical technologists for (a) errors of commission and errors of omission, b) failure to follow a complete protocol, (c) answers inconsistent with the data collected, and (d) answers inconsistent with prior probability information. Participants using the critiquing system had significantly better performance (completely eliminating misdiagnosis rates for 3 out of 4 test cases) than a comparable control group. Detailed analysis of the behavioral protocols provided insights into how specific design features influenced performance. Practical applications of this research include its use (after refinements) as a tool for routine antibody identification in blood banks.

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In this paper we examine how users interact with a computer-based infusion device adapted for terbutaline infusion to treat preterm labor in women experiencing high-risk pregnancies. This study examines (a) the human-computer interaction (HCI) deficiencies in the device as related to this context of use, (b) how the device characteristics increase the potential for error, and (c) the tailoring strategies developed by users to insulate themselves from failure. Interviews with nurses and tests of the behavior of the infusion device in different conditions identified several classic HCI deficiencies: complex and arbitrary sequences of operation, mode errors caused by poor differentiation of multiple operating modes intended for different contexts, ambiguous alarms, getting lost in multiple displays, and poor feedback on device state and behavior.

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