The Role of Human Factors in Telehealth

Members of the American Telemedicine Association's Special Interest Group on Human Factors have prepared an overview of the field of human factors and its role in telehealth. Human factors concepts and methodologies that affect the design, implementation, and evaluation of telehealth applications are discussed. Examples from numerous application areas that highlight the significance of human factors principles and methodologies are presented. Recommendations for inclusion of human factors in telehealth system design and evaluation, and the resulting implications for system designers, practitioners, vendors, and policy makers, are provided. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the field of human factors (HFs) and its role in telehealth. We discuss HF concepts and methodologies that affect the design, implementation, and evaluation of telehealth applications and provide examples from numerous application areas that highlight the significance of HF principles and methodologies. We also provide recommendations for inclusion of HFs in telehealth system design and evaluation, and discuss resulting implications for system designers, practitioners, vendors, and policy makers.