Content area

Abstract

What are the challenges involved in designing, modifying, and improving a major health information portal that serves over sixty million page views a month? MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine's (NLM's) consumer health Website, is examined. Challenges are presented as six "studies," which describe selected design issues and how NLM staff resolved them. Improving MedlinePlus is an iterative process. Changes in the public user interface are ongoing, reflecting Web design trends, usability testing recommendations, user survey results, new technical requirements, and the need to grow the site in an orderly way. Testing and analysis should accompany Website design modifications. New technologies may enhance a site but also introduce problems. Further modifications to MedlinePlus will be informed by the experiences described here.

Details

1009240
Company / organization
Title
The MedlinePlus public user interface: studies of design challenges and opportunities
Volume
94
Issue
1
Pages
30-40
Number of pages
11
Publication year
2006
Publication date
Jan 2006
Publisher
University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
Place of publication
Chicago
Country of publication
United States
ISSN
15365050
e-ISSN
15589439
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
Document type
Journal Article
Document feature
Illustrations; References
Accession number
16404467
ProQuest document ID
203482674
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/medlineplus-public-user-interface-studies-design/docview/203482674/se-2?accountid=208611
Copyright
Copyright Medical Library Association Jan 2006
Last updated
2025-11-18
Database
ProQuest One Academic