Usability Testing: Ensuring User–friendly Data Collection in Clinical Trials

Usability testing is recommended to verify that Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) questionnaires migrated from their original paper version, into another format like an app, have the same properties of reliability and validity in both formats. However, our research shows usability testing is more effective when cognitive debriefing is de-emphasized during this process. Our data indicates that a semi-structured interview format, which incorporates active engagement with the device, improves the usefulness of usability testing significantly. This editorial was published in Journal for Clinical Studies, November 2018.