Testing the Database of International Rehabilitation Research: using rehabilitation researchers to determine the usability of a bibliographic database.

Objectives: This study tested the usability of the Database of International Rehabilitation Research, a bibliographic database developed by the Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange (CIRRIE).

Methods: Potential users, i.e., rehabilitation researchers, were asked to participate in a usability study. Test questions were designed to represent common tasks performed in a bibliographic database. Participants were asked to think aloud during the test so that both their actions and comments could be recorded.

Results: This study identified common problems that participants had while searching the database and aspects of the database that needed improvement.

Conclusions: Usability testing proved to be an effective method for evaluating database effectiveness and user satisfaction. The method used provided valuable information about how the database searchers approached their searches as well as how they performed them.