Challenges in data documentation and retrieval in the ASHA diary from a usability perspective

In India, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) serve as indispensable connectors between healthcare systems and underserved communities, ensuring the delivery of essential health services. At the core of their responsibilities lies the meticulous documentation of patient information in ASHA diaries. ASHA diaries are essential tools for documenting and retrieving accurate information, enabling the monitoring of health status, tracking of interventions, and supporting data-driven decision-making. However, navigating and extracting relevant information from ASHA diaries presents significant challenges for ASHA workers. Therefore, the primary objective of this research is to assess the usability of the current ASHA diary by identifying the key challenges ASHA workers encounter in documenting and retrieving effective data. An empirical study encompassing both qualitative and quantitative methods was carried out involving fifty-seven ASHA workers. Quantitative data was collected through a modified questionnaire. Qualitative data were gathered via observation, informal interviews, and task analysis to better understand the difficulties in using the diary. Descriptive statistics and factor analyses were conducted to analyze and describe the factors contributing to usability issues. The findings reveal various challenges, including poor visual cues (visibility, readability, legibility), difficulty in comprehension, inconsistent data presentation, excessive cognitive load, inappropriate resource utilization, etc. By identifying these usability challenges, this research provides substantial insights for improving the design of ASHA diaries, ultimately enhancing data documentation and retrieval processes for ASHA workers. This research makes a meaningful contribution to optimizing healthcare information systems to better meet the needs of ASHA workers and improve healthcare delivery in marginalized communities.