Match

Match between system and the real world

Minimize Memory Load

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Consistency	Visiblity	Match	Minimalism	Memory	Feedback	Flexibility
Error Messages	Prevent Errors	Closure	Undo	Language	Control	Help
Return to General Design Principles Index

The image of the system perceived by users should match the model the users have about the system.

Place items and display information consistently. The items in the system should be placed according to existing standards and guidance in the real world as well as to facilitate users’ performance. For example, the primary menu should be placed in the left. First, it is a convention to have the primary menu on the left. Second, placing the primary menu on the left helps to maximize users’ performance. On the other hand, the information should be displayed in a standard way that conforms to the reality. For instance, units should be displayed in a standard way to conform to users’ clinical work.

A good example of palcing primary menu in the left

Figure 1:

This is a good example. Primary navigation menus is placed on the left as shown in the picture. Users preferred having the primary menu in the left panel. By placing the menu on the left the display matches users’ needs and expectation in the real world.

Conform to the systems and practice of the users. First, systems should be designed for popular operating systems. For example, systems designs should be based on the requirements of the primary operating systems people are using. The connection speed in different institutions should also be put into account. On the other hand, system designs should conform to best practice and existing standards. For example, the key design principles from the paper drug charts can be transferred to the system to reduce the need for training and increase familiarity when users move to electronic systems

Use users’ language. Use familiar and consistent terminology, ensure that items are distinct from one another, use consistent and concise phrasing. Use customer-focused language and standardized abbreviations. Do not use jargons, marketing lingos and smart phrases.

Figure 2:

This is a bad example because the system uses P. as the abbreviation of P.M., which makes it difficult to understand.

Guidelines Summary:

Place items and display information consistently

Place Primary Navigation Menus in the Left Panel [2] Usability.gov 7:5
Place Important Items Consistently [2] Usability.gov 6:2
Organize Information Clearly [2] Usability.gov 16:1
Avoid using spaces and punctuation inappropriately, for emphasis[1] Nielsen’s 28
Order Elements to Maximize User Performance [2] Usability.gov 12:1
Display Related Items in Lists [2] Usability.gov 12:4
Use Appropriate List Style [2] Usability.gov 12:8
Display units accurately in standard notation. [4] NIST7865 VI-D p.23
Displaying core information according to existing standards and guidance and using a minimum data set available to clinical applications [3] CUI (Design Guidance - Patient Banner) p.4
Display information according to existing standards [3] CUI (Design Guidance - Patient Banner) p.4
Order lists appropriately [3] CUI (Design Guidance - Displaying Adverse Drug Reaction Risks) p.7
The significance of the priority levels must be easily understood by the user [3] CUI (Design Guidance Exploration - Decision Support) p.5
Consistency of structure in the display of information [3] CUI (Design Guidance Exploration - Decision Support) p.5

Conform to systems and practice of the users

Design for Popular Operating Systems [2] Usability.gov 4:3
Design for User’s Typical Connection Speed [2] Usability.gov 4:4
Design for Commonly Used Screen Resolutions [2] Usability.gov 4:5
Conforming to convention and existing best practice with which clinicians are already familiar, so as to reduce the training requirements of clinical applications [3] CUI (Design Guidance - Email Input and Display) p.3
Balancing the need for consistency and commonality across clinical applications with the need to support Independent Software Vendor (ISV) requirements for flexibility [3] CUI (Design Guidance - Email Input and Display) p.3
Where appropriate, applying UI standards and conventions from non-clinical application software to the design of clinical applications [3] CUI (Design Guidance -- Filtering Sorting and Grouping) p.8
Promoting consistent use of filtering, sorting and grouping for all users across clinical applications and care settings [3] CUI (Design Guidance -- Filtering Sorting and Grouping) p.8

Use users’ language

Don't use made-up words for category navigation choices [1] Nielsen’s 44
Only use imperative language such as "Enter a City or Zip Code" for mandatory tasks, or qualify the statement appropriately [1] Nielsen’s 24
Spell out abbreviations, initialisms, and acronyms, and immediately follow them by the abbreviation, in the first instance [1] Nielsen’s 25
Use customer-focused language [1] Nielsen’s 17
Don't use clever phrases and marketing lingo that make people work too hard to figure out what you're saying [1] Nielsen’s 19
Use standard abbreviations, such as p.m. or P.M. Don't abbreviate further, such as "p." [1] Nielsen’s 108
Spell out the month, or use month abbreviations, not numbers [1] Nielsen’s 109
Avoid Jargon [2] Usability.gov 15:2
Describe substances in a common, unambiguous terminology (where possible) [3] CUI (Design Guidance - Displaying Adverse Drug Reaction Risks) p.7
Phrasing of menu items: use familiar and consistent terminology, ensure that items are distinct from one another, use consistent and concise phrasing, position the key words to the left of the text string [3] CUI (Design Guidance - Displaying Adverse Drug Reaction Risks) p.7
Sign systems should be as simple as possible to ensure ease of learning [3] CUI (Design Guidance Exploration - Icons and Symbology) p.3

Please note:The content provided here are intended as guidelines (recommended, but not mandatory) for design and implementation, not as standards (mandatory, minimum requirements).

References:

[1] Nielsen J. 113 design guidelines for homepage usability. 2001; Available from:www.nngroup.com/articles/113-design-guidelines-homepage-usability.

[2] U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. The Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines, Enlarged/Expanded edition. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2006. Available from: https://www.usability.gov/.

[3] Microsoft. Microsoft Health Common User Interface design guidance. 2012; Available to download from: https://archive.codeplex.com/?p=mscui. (Design Guidance - Find a Patient PDF).

[4] Lowry SZ, Quinn MT, Ramaiah M, Brick D, Patterson ES, Zhang J, et al. A human factors guide to enhance EHR usability of critical user interactions when supporting pediatric patient care. The National Institute of Standards and Technology; 2012.

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