WOMBAT

research collection via a tablet

Intersect has delivered an electronic data collection tool in collaboration with the Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research at the UNSW. The Work Observation Method by Activity Timing (WOMBAT) measures clinicians’ complex patterns of work and communication which traditional paper-based data collection methods are unable to capture.

The WOMBAT is an application allowing observers to accurately record the tasks a doctor or nurse carries out during a time period. Information to be captured includes who the target is interacting with, what task they are performing and for how long, tasks conducted in parallel (multi-tasking) and interruptions.

Dr Nerida Creswick and software engineers Sean McCarthy and Veronica Luke review the WOMBAT application. Photo: Prof Johanna Westbrook.

Observers use a portable device running an Android application, uploading data to a web application. The Web application enables administrators to extract and view the data collected by observers. It also allows the study components to be configured and transferred back onto the tablet.

The speed of data input and ease of use are critical due to the high rate at which tasks change and time-capture requirements. This required a carefully designed user interface.

Intersect has developed software and user interface designs for the tablet devices which capture the clinicians’ work tasks.

The tool allows efficient, accurate and reliable data collection, and captures greater degrees of work complexity than previously possible.