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STD Communications Database
Macro incorporated usability engineering and analysis throughout the development of a sexually transmitted diseases (STD) communications database for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This database (http://www.cdc.gov/std/commdata
) contains current knowledge about how best to communicate to key
target audiences about STDs and is a resource for local, county,
State, and Federal health professionals. Our usability professionals consulted
on almost
all stages of interface development, performing online assessments
and testing in the usability lab throughout the project. By involving the
users in the
design process, listening to their needs and concerns, and testing
the interface early and often, we created an easy-to-use, dynamic database.
Usability engineering
and analysis has been proven to help keep development on track, on
schedule, and in budget throughout the development process.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) State Evaluation
CDC chose Macro to evaluate online data dissemination systems and practices used by public health agencies. This 3-year evaluation was intended to produce recommendations and guidance for agencies in developing Web-based systems for information dissemination. Fifty-three State and local health agency Web sites were evaluated to determine how agencies exchanged public health data over the Internet. We also reviewed usability literature and implications for data dissemination on State health agency Web sites, interviewed health agency Webmasters, and performed heuristic evaluations of query interfaces. The final products of this evaluation include A Guide for Public Health Agencies Developing, Adopting, or Purchasing Interactive Web-based Data Dissemination Systems and a model prototype of a Web-based data dissemination system.
Blood-Borne Pathogens Web Site Usability Testing
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is charged with promoting worker safety and health, including the prevention of occupational exposure and transmission of HIV and other blood-borne pathogens to health care and other workers. NIOSH developed a blood-borne pathogens sub-site to disseminate materials developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention related to occupational cause and prevention of blood-borne pathogen transmission—especially HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C transmission. To improve this sub-site and ensure that the information is useful and accessible to health care workers and other users, NIOSH recruited Macro to conduct usability testing—including Web site content analysis and site mapping, inquiry method analysis, and field studies with the NIOSH Web site audience members—and develop audience-positioning guides through a strategic branding process.
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