User Personas for a "Better Design" of Nation-Wide EHRs Based on Thorough Expert Evaluation and Field Analysis: Modeling Users as Individuals Plus Family Members for an Enhanced Mapping of Healthcare Situations

Abstract

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are pivotal in prevention, therapy, and care. Their design necessitates the representation of users, activities, context, and technology. Among various participative and ethnographic design methods, user personas are an effective tool for encapsulating users in the design process. Goals and methods: This research focused on the creation of user personas for the design of a nation-wide EHR, specifically the German "elektronische Patientenakte" (ePA). We employed qualitative methods, such as field analysis and expert workshops, to generate, assess, and refine a set of user personas that can cover the complexity of real-life familial care environments. We used an innovative bottom-up approach applying a whole new process for persona generation especially in the context of family management. Results: The research yielded an initial set of five personas that accurately represent fictional user types. Importantly, at least two of these personas encapsulate the unique challenges inherent in family care work. These results provide a foundation for future work, which can utilize these personas for EHR design, as well as for further evaluation and refinement.