Human factors and usability are critical disciplines focused on designing technology that is safe, effective, and easy for people to use. In healthcare, where a poorly designed system can lead to a catastrophic medication error, these principles are not just a luxury—they are a core component of patient safety. This quiz for PharmD students will test your knowledge of how to evaluate and apply human factors engineering and usability principles to pharmacy technology like EHRs and clinical decision support systems.
1. “Human factors engineering” is the discipline that focuses on:
- The financial cost of technology.
- The marketing of new medical devices.
- Designing systems and devices to be compatible with human capabilities and limitations.
- The speed of a computer’s processor.
Answer: Designing systems and devices to be compatible with human capabilities and limitations.
2. “Usability” is a quality attribute that assesses how easy a user interface is to use. It is primarily concerned with:
- The number of features a system has.
- The visual aesthetics of the design.
- The effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction with which a user can achieve their goals.
- The underlying programming language of the software.
Answer: The effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction with which a user can achieve their goals.
3. The “user-centered design” philosophy places the ________ at the center of the design process.
- Technology
- Business goals
- User
- Regulatory requirements
Answer: User
4. A pharmacist is consistently making errors when entering a specific type of order into a new CPOE system. A human factors approach would first investigate:
- The pharmacist’s level of intelligence.
- The possibility that the system’s design is confusing or error-prone.
- The time of day the errors are occurring.
- The pharmacist’s typing speed.
Answer: The possibility that the system’s design is confusing or error-prone.
5. Which of the following is a primary goal of usability testing?
- To find fault with the user’s performance.
- To identify and fix design problems before a system is widely implemented.
- To market the new system to potential buyers.
- To write the user manual for the system.
Answer: To identify and fix design problems before a system is widely implemented.
6. The usability metric of “effectiveness” measures:
- How quickly a user can complete a task.
- How much the user likes the system.
- The accuracy and completeness with which users achieve their goals.
- The cost of the system.
Answer: The accuracy and completeness with which users achieve their goals.
7. The usability metric of “efficiency” measures:
- The user’s opinion of the system.
- The resources (e.g., time, clicks) expended to achieve a goal.
- The number of errors the user makes.
- The learnability of the system.
Answer: The resources (e.g., time, clicks) expended to achieve a goal.
8. A “heuristic evaluation” is a usability inspection method where an expert:
- Asks users to perform a series of tasks.
- Compares a system’s interface to a list of recognized usability principles (the “heuristics”).
- Analyzes the system’s underlying code.
- Deploys the system to a large group of end-users.
Answer: Compares a system’s interface to a list of recognized usability principles (the “heuristics”).
9. The Nielsen heuristic “visibility of system status” means the system should always:
- Hide what it is doing to avoid confusing the user.
- Keep the user informed about what is going on through appropriate feedback.
- Have a visible power button.
- Display the time and date in the corner of the screen.
Answer: Keep the user informed about what is going on through appropriate feedback.
10. An EHR that uses medical jargon for a function that a patient is expected to use (like in a patient portal) violates which usability heuristic?
- Match between system and the real world.
- Error prevention.
- Aesthetic and minimalist design.
- User control and freedom.
Answer: Match between system and the real world.
11. A “cognitive walkthrough” is a usability evaluation method that focuses on:
- The user’s emotional response to the system.
- Evaluating a system’s ease of learning by having an expert step through a task.
- The physical comfort of the user.
- The system’s processing speed.
Answer: Evaluating a system’s ease of learning by having an expert step through a task.
12. The “think-aloud” protocol is a usability testing method where a participant is asked to:
- Perform a task silently while being observed.
- Verbalize their thoughts, feelings, and frustrations as they interact with the system.
- Guess what the system is going to do next.
- Work with a partner to complete a task.
Answer: Verbalize their thoughts, feelings, and frustrations as they interact with the system.
13. The System Usability Scale (SUS) is a tool used to collect:
- Quantitative data on a user’s perception of usability.
- Qualitative feedback on specific design flaws.
- The number of clicks it takes to complete a task.
- The user’s heart rate during the test.
Answer: Quantitative data on a user’s perception of usability.
14. A poorly designed user interface for a smart pump that makes it easy to confuse mL/hr with mg/hr could lead to what type of error?
- A ten-fold or greater dosing error.
- A wrong patient error.
- A wrong drug error.
- A documentation error.
Answer: A ten-fold or greater dosing error.
15. “Alert fatigue” is a human factors issue that occurs when:
- Users are presented with too many non-critical alerts, causing them to ignore important ones.
- The system is not capable of generating alerts.
- The alerts are too quiet to be heard.
- Patients get tired of being alerted about their health.
Answer: Users are presented with too many non-critical alerts, causing them to ignore important ones.
16. The Nielsen heuristic “recognition rather than recall” suggests that it is easier for a user to:
- Remember a complex command from memory.
- See and choose from a list of visible options.
- Type a long password every time.
- Learn a new workflow without any training.
Answer: See and choose from a list of visible options.
17. An “undo” button in a software application is a classic example of which Nielsen heuristic?
- Visibility of system status.
- User control and freedom.
- Consistency and standards.
- Aesthetic and minimalist design.
Answer: User control and freedom.
18. Why is workflow integration a critical human factors consideration when implementing new pharmacy technology?
- If the technology disrupts or adds unnecessary steps to a clinician’s workflow, it is less likely to be used correctly and safely.
- It is not an important consideration.
- It ensures the technology is the most expensive option.
- It makes the pharmacist’s job more complicated.
Answer: If the technology disrupts or adds unnecessary steps to a clinician’s workflow, it is less likely to be used correctly and safely.
19. A “slip” is a type of human error where the user:
- Has the right intention but performs the wrong action due to an attention failure.
- Formulates a wrong plan of action.
- Intentionally violates a procedure.
- Forgets the correct procedure.
Answer: Has the right intention but performs the wrong action due to an attention failure.
20. A “mistake” is a type of human error where the user:
- Accidentally clicks the wrong button.
- Formulates a wrong plan of action due to incorrect knowledge or interpretation.
- Is distracted during a task.
- Knows the right action but performs the wrong one.
Answer: Formulates a wrong plan of action due to incorrect knowledge or interpretation.
21. A well-designed CPOE system should help prevent mistakes by:
- Using structured order sets and decision support.
- Allowing for free-text entry only.
- Having a complex and confusing interface.
- Hiding the patient’s allergy information.
Answer: Using structured order sets and decision support.
22. “Affordance” is a design principle where the appearance of an object:
- Is purely decorative.
- Suggests how it should be used (e.g., a button that looks “pressable”).
- Hides its true function.
- Is confusing to the user.
Answer: Suggests how it should be used (e.g., a button that looks “pressable”).
23. The use of “tall man” lettering (e.g., hydrOXYzine vs. hydrALAZINE) in an EHR is a human factors strategy to prevent:
- Wrong dose errors.
- Look-alike/sound-alike drug errors.
- Wrong patient errors.
- Wrong route errors.
Answer: Look-alike/sound-alike drug errors.
24. A key part of the “leadership” required to implement a new technology is:
- To champion the importance of user-centered design and usability testing.
- To select the cheapest available system.
- To force the new technology on the staff without training.
- To ignore all user feedback.
Answer: To champion the importance of user-centered design and usability testing.
25. A usability test that is conducted early in the design process using sketches or wireframes is called:
- Summative evaluation.
- Formative evaluation.
- Market research.
- A clinical trial.
Answer: Formative evaluation.
26. A “summative” usability evaluation is typically conducted:
- At the very beginning of the design process.
- To assess the usability of a finished product and compare it to a benchmark.
- With the designers as the only participants.
- Without any specific tasks.
Answer: To assess the usability of a finished product and compare it to a benchmark.
27. The Nielsen heuristic “error prevention” suggests that:
- Good systems should have excellent error messages.
- A careful design that prevents a problem from occurring in the first place is better than a good error message.
- Users should be allowed to make as many errors as possible.
- Error messages should be vague and unhelpful.
Answer: A careful design that prevents a problem from occurring in the first place is better than a good error message.
28. A key human factors principle in the design of a clinical decision support alert is to:
- Ensure the alert is presented at the right point in the workflow to be acted upon.
- Fire the alert after the clinician has already completed the task.
- Make the alert as generic as possible.
- Use a very small font for the alert text.
Answer: Ensure the alert is presented at the right point in the workflow to be acted upon.
29. A pharmacy that redesigns its physical workspace to reduce footsteps, minimize distractions, and improve the lighting is applying the principles of:
- Financial accounting.
- Ergonomics and human factors.
- Marketing.
- Pharmacy law.
Answer: Ergonomics and human factors.
30. The ultimate goal of applying human factors and usability to pharmacy technology is to:
- Make the systems look more modern.
- Increase the efficiency of the IT department.
- Enhance patient safety and improve the user experience for clinicians.
- Justify the cost of new technology.
Answer: Enhance patient safety and improve the user experience for clinicians.
31. The “learnability” of a system refers to:
- How easily a new user can begin to use the system effectively.
- The number of features the system has.
- The system’s ability to remember a user’s preferences.
- How quickly an expert user can complete a task.
Answer: How easily a new user can begin to use the system effectively.
32. The “memorability” of a system refers to:
- How easily a returning user can reestablish proficiency after a period of not using it.
- The system’s ability to store large amounts of data.
- The visual appeal of the interface.
- The system’s help and documentation.
Answer: How easily a returning user can reestablish proficiency after a period of not using it.
33. Involving pharmacists and technicians in the design and testing of a new pharmacy automation system is an example of:
- A waste of time.
- A user-centered design process.
- A top-down implementation approach.
- A conflict of interest.
Answer: A user-centered design process.
34. A “workaround” is a term used in human factors to describe when:
- A user follows the intended procedure exactly.
- A user develops a non-standard way to bypass a problem or flaw in a system’s design.
- The system works perfectly.
- A user receives additional training.
Answer: A user develops a non-standard way to bypass a problem or flaw in a system’s design.
35. Workarounds are a significant safety concern because they often:
- Are safer and more efficient than the intended workflow.
- Bypass built-in safety features of the system.
- Are officially approved by management.
- Are documented in the user manual.
Answer: Bypass built-in safety features of the system.
36. The use of a “forcing function” in design is a human factors principle that:
- Makes it impossible to do a task incorrectly.
- Provides a helpful suggestion to the user.
- Allows the user complete freedom.
- Is a type of pop-up alert.
Answer: Makes it impossible to do a task incorrectly.
37. An example of a forcing function in an EHR would be:
- A system that does not allow a prescription for a chemotherapy agent to be completed without an accompanying height and weight for dose calculation.
- An informational link on the side of the screen.
- A customizable color scheme.
- An optional notes field.
Answer: A system that does not allow a prescription for a chemotherapy agent to be completed without an accompanying height and weight for dose calculation.
38. The field of “gerotechnology” must pay special attention to human factors and usability because:
- Older adults may have unique needs related to vision, hearing, dexterity, and cognitive changes.
- Older adults are all experts in technology.
- Technology is not useful for older adults.
- All older adults have the same abilities.
Answer: Older adults may have unique needs related to vision, hearing, dexterity, and cognitive changes.
39. A key human factors issue with patient portals is ensuring that:
- The medical information presented is understandable to a layperson.
- Only medical professionals can access them.
- They are filled with complex medical jargon.
- They are difficult to navigate.
Answer: The medical information presented is understandable to a layperson.
40. A leader who is “forging ahead” with a new technology must also champion:
- The importance of usability testing to ensure the technology actually improves care.
- A rapid rollout without any user feedback.
- The selection of the system with the most features, regardless of usability.
- A disregard for the impact on clinical workflow.
Answer: The importance of usability testing to ensure the change actually improves care.
41. The heuristic “consistency and standards” implies that:
- A system should use familiar conventions and be consistent in its own terminology and actions.
- Every part of the system should look completely different.
- The system should be as innovative and unconventional as possible.
- The user should have to learn new conventions for every task.
Answer: A system should use familiar conventions and be consistent in its own terminology and actions.
42. Which of the following would be a violation of the “aesthetic and minimalist design” heuristic?
- A clean, uncluttered user interface.
- An interface that contains a large amount of irrelevant or rarely needed information.
- A system that uses a consistent color scheme.
- A design that prioritizes the most important information.
Answer: An interface that contains a large amount of irrelevant or rarely needed information.
43. The “Help and Documentation” heuristic states that help should be:
- Easy to search, focused on the user’s task, and list concrete steps.
- Difficult to find and highly technical.
- Available only by calling a support line.
- A single, large, unsearchable manual.
Answer: Easy to search, focused on the user’s task, and list concrete steps.
44. A root cause analysis of a medication error that focuses on system design flaws rather than just blaming the individual is an application of:
- Human factors principles.
- A punitive approach to safety.
- A management-only review.
- A legal proceeding.
Answer: Human factors principles.
45. The physical design of a community pharmacy can impact human performance. For example, a chaotic and noisy environment can increase the risk of:
- Distraction-related dispensing errors.
- Better concentration for the pharmacist.
- Faster prescription filling times.
- Improved patient counseling.
Answer: Distraction-related dispensing errors.
46. A “task analysis” is a usability method used to:
- Understand the steps and cognitive processes a user goes through to complete a goal.
- Assess the user’s satisfaction with a system.
- Compare two different systems.
- Test the speed of a system.
Answer: Understand the steps and cognitive processes a user goes through to complete a goal.
47. A pharmacist informatics specialist’s expertise in both clinical workflow and technology makes them ideally suited to:
- Bridge the gap between the IT department and frontline clinicians on usability issues.
- Only work on technical coding problems.
- Only perform clinical duties.
- Manage the pharmacy’s budget.
Answer: Bridge the gap between the IT department and frontline clinicians on usability issues.
48. Why is it important to test a system with actual end-users (e.g., pharmacists, technicians) instead of just the designers?
- The designers already know how the system is supposed to work and will not encounter the same problems as a real user.
- It is not important; designers are the best testers.
- Real users are too critical of new systems.
- It is too expensive to test with real users.
Answer: The designers already know how the system is supposed to work and will not encounter the same problems as a real user.
49. An effective error message should be:
- Vague and alarming (e.g., “FATAL ERROR 404”).
- Polite, precise in explaining the problem, and constructively suggest a solution.
- Written in a complex code that only a programmer can understand.
- Blaming the user for the mistake.
Answer: Polite, precise in explaining the problem, and constructively suggest a solution.
50. The ultimate reason human factors and usability are critical in pharmacy is that:
- They are directly linked to patient safety.
- They make technology more interesting.
- They are a minor part of the design process.
- They ensure a high profit margin for technology vendors.
Answer: They are directly linked to patient safety.
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com