Publications
36 results found
Money A, Coughlan J, 2016, Team-taught versus individually taught undergraduate education: a qualitative study of student experiences and preferences, Higher Education, Vol: 72, Pages: 797-811, ISSN: 0018-1560
Team teaching is becoming more common in undergraduate programmes of study although the relative merits to the more traditional individually taught courses have not been determined for best practice. For this study, 15 final-year undergraduate computer science students were interviewed to gain insight into their learning experiences. A thematic analysis of the interview data identified the perceived advantages and disadvantages of each mode of teaching. The advantages of individually taught courses included: consistency of content delivery and advice, familiarity with the lecturer’s teaching style and better continuity of the subject content. The disadvantage of individually taught modules included missing knowledge, compared to a team approach. Advantages of team-taught modules included: greater insight into a topic delivered by multiple team members. Disadvantages included: content overlap, conflicting messages relating to assessment, team members not taking ownership of their roles and responsibilities and a belief that overall team failure is worse than individual failure to deliver a module well. The results revealed that individually taught modules were generally preferred to team-taught modules. A set of best practice recommendations are proposed to address the challenges when delivering team-taught teaching and become more student focused.
Al-Haidari N, Coughlan J, 2015, An Exploratory Content Analysis of a Saudi Women’s Beauty Products’ Discussion Forum, Asia Pacific Journal of Information Systems, Vol: 25, Pages: 805-822, ISSN: 2288-5404
Barnett J, Harricharan M, Fletcher D, et al., 2015, myPace: an integrative health platform for supporting weight loss and maintenance behaviors., IEEE J Biomed Health Inform, Vol: 19, Pages: 109-116
Obesity is a major health concern caused by unhealthy eating behaviors. Digital weight loss interventions have adopted mobile technology primarily in order to support self-monitoring. However, many available apps are not designed as a part of dietetic practice; therefore, a distinct gap in the research exists relating to technology that supports the patient-practitioner relationship. This paper presents myPace, which is a complete weight loss and management system that is deployed via a smartphone and a PC. It connects dietitians and patients between face-to-face consultations and extends the relationship through patients' regular progress updates and dietitians' tailored and timely advice, for sustained behavior change. The prototype was developed from research into behavior change for weight loss, which furthermore was underpinned by theory and tenets of human support models, such as the supportive accountability framework. We report on an early-phase system design goals via a formative research process, which aimed to implement theoretical principles and match practical dietetic practice. To that end, only the clinical end user's perspective was sought through a coaching think-aloud protocol on the first iteration of the prototype and interviews with dietitians. Findings show that the system has many positive design features, but which require further development in order for the system to be fully acceptable within dietetic practice and motivate patient engagement.
Al-Haidari N, Coughlan J, 2014, The influence of electronic-word-of-mouth on consumer decision-making for beauty products in a Kuwaiti Women's online community, Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia, Vol: 13, Pages: 3-14
Edwards M, Agha R, Coughlan J, 2013, Capturing intra-operative safety information using surgical wikis., Inform Health Soc Care, Vol: 38, Pages: 120-131
BACKGROUND: Expert surgeons use a mass of intra-operative information, as well as pre- and post-operative information to complete operations safely. Trainees acquired this intra-operative knowledge at the operating table, now largely diminished by the working time directive. Wikis offer unexplored approaches to capturing and disseminating expert knowledge to further promote safer surgery for the trainee. METHODS: Grafting an abdominal aortic aneurysm represents a potentially high-risk operation demanding extreme safety measures. Operative details, presented on a surgical wiki in the form of a script and content analysed to classify types of safety information. RESULTS: The intra-operative part of the script contained 2,743 items of essential surgical information, comprising 21 sections, 405 steps and 2,317 items of back-up information; 155 (5.7%) of them were also specific intra-operative safety checks. Best case scenarios consisted of 1,077 items of intra-operative information, 69 of which were safety checks. Worse case and rare scenarios required a further 1,666 items of information, including 86 safety checks. CONCLUSIONS: Wikis are relevant to surgical practice specifically as a platform for knowledge sharing and optimising the available operating time of trainees, as a very large amount of minutely detailed information essential for a safe major operation can be captured.
Coughlan J, Brinkman WP, 2013, Design considerations for delivering E-learning to surgical trainees, Digital Advances in Medicine, E-Health, and Communication Technologies, Pages: 341-350, ISBN: 9781466627956
Challenges remain in leveraging e-health technologies for continuous medical education/professional development. This study examines the interface design and learning process features related to the use of multimedia in providing effective support for the knowledge and practice of surgical skills. Twenty-one surgical trainees evaluated surgical content on a CD-ROM format based on 14 interface design and 11 learning process features using a questionnaire adapted from an established tool created to assess educational multimedia. Significant Spearman's correlations were found for seven of the 14 interface design features - 'Navigation', 'Learning demands', 'Videos', 'Media integration', 'Level of material', 'Information presentation' and 'Overall functionality', explaining ratings of the learning process. The interplay of interface design and learning process features of educational multimedia highlight key design considerations in e-learning. An understanding of these features is relevant to the delivery of surgical training, reflecting the current state of the art in transferring static CD-ROM content to the dynamic web or creating CD/web hybrid models of education.
Coughlan J, 2013, Building alumni-student relationships that matter. The behaviour chain of professional social networking, International Education Conference
Jamal A, Coughlan J, Kamal M, 2013, Mining social network data for personalisation and privacy concerns: A case study of Facebook's Beacon, International Journal of Business Information Systems, Vol: 13, Pages: 173-198, ISSN: 1746-0972
The popular success of online social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook is a hugely tempting resource of data mining for businesses engaged in personalised marketing. The use of personal information, willingly shared between online friends' networks intuitively appears to be a natural extension of current advertising strategies such as word-of-mouth and viral marketing. However, the use of SNS data for personalised marketing has provoked outrage amongst SNS users and radically highlighted the issue of privacy concern. This paper inverts the traditional approach to personalisation by conceptualising the limits of data mining in social networks using privacy concern as the guide. A qualitative investigation of 95 blogs containing 568 comments was collected during the failed launch of Beacon, a third party marketing initiative by Facebook. Thematic analysis resulted in the development of taxonomy of privacy concerns which offers a concrete means for online businesses to better understand SNS business landscape - especially with regard to the limits of the use and acceptance of personalised marketing in social networks. Copyright © 2013 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Ur Rehman S, Coughlan J, 2012, Cell phone based video streaming system, Pages: 54-57
We propose a system through which one can stream video of a certain area using a cell phone or from the internet. The radical part of it is that the camera which will be streaming video for that particular area will be a cell phone too. The user will not have to purchase additional hardware to use this software. Two Cell phones will serve the purpose. One Cell phone will broadcast live video of the area under supervision and the other cell phone can access that video remotely using this application. Communication has always been provided at the expense of valuable time, usage of complex systems and high cost. We are about to change this trend by our new application. The user can now monitor activities going on at home just by using the mobile phone. This research is aimed to provide monitoring of one's home specifically and other purposes generally at the expense of saving time, easiness and cost effectiveness. The user does not need to restrict him to any boundary for just connectivity purposes. The user can get in touch with his family; staff or belongings, anytime from anywhere in the world on the mobile or web and view live video of any location around the world. © 2012 IEEE.
Al-Haidari NM, Coughlan J, 2012, Investigating continuance usage of e-WOM in online communities, Pages: 242-246
This research seeks to investigate continuance usage of electronic word of mouth (e-WOM) in two online communities from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. In particular, these online communities have become channels for members to exchange and interact with information online in Middle East cultures, where online forum communities are prevalent among Arabic internet users. Little research is focused on the factors that drive members to continue using e-WOM from online communities. This paper introduces a framework for continuance usage of electronic word of mouth in online communities, building on three main models: information adoption model, information system (IS) continuance model, and word of mouth process model. © 2012 Infonomics Society.
Rehman SU, Coughlan J, 2012, Building trust for online shopping and their adoption of e-commerce, Pages: 456-460
The work envisions current scenarios of developing countries. Unfortunately the developing countries are going through a very critical time, facing terrorism, bomb blasts; strikes have impacted the sellers, the buyers, and the business adversely. People are reluctant to go out for shopping etc. Furthermore Life is moving at a fast pace, and we rarely get free time and in those moments one actually wants to stay away from the crowd, noise etc, and if one gets facilitates of shopping are just a few clicks away with a cup of coffee in hand, then who would not love it. Work here is facilitating the people with ease and security in buying and even selling with certain criteria. The problem with the current online shopping is that customers are reluctant to use their credit cards due to the online theft incidents, then the fake websites. Our proposed system will be capable of confirming the identities of the users and e-commerce websites which in turn will reduce the risk of any kind of fraud. This will make online-shopping fun, easy, and useful. The objective of the proposed system is to enhance the customers to shop online securely and efficiently. © 2012 Infonomics Society.
Balta ME, Coughlan J-L, Hobson P, 2012, Motivations And Barriers In Undergraduate Students Decisions To Enroll In Placement Courses In The UK, Journal of International Education Research (JIER), Vol: 8, Pages: 399-414, ISSN: 2158-0979
<jats:p>Due to recent changes in higher education and the increased demand for highly qualified candidates in the labor market, the employability of U.K. graduates has become a key performance indicator for universities. Institutions of higher education attempt to address employability by delivering a skilled workforce that will ensure the U.K.s competitiveness in a global context. Placements are a proven mechanism for developing employability and, as such, this study aims to investigate the reasons behind students decisions to take a placement or non-placement course. Based on a self-administered, online questionnaire completed by 71 placement and 117 non-placement students from three schools, the study explores the reasons why students take or do not take a placement course. Finally, recommendations are made for ways to overcome potential work placement barriers and to promote placements to students, parents, and academic tutors as well as to advertise the benefits of work-based learning for employability.</jats:p>
Patel N, Brinkman WP, Coughlan J, 2012, Work placements and academic achievement: Undergraduate computing students, Education and Training, Vol: 54, Pages: 523-533, ISSN: 0040-0912
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate and understand whether students who complete a work placement as part of their degree course achieve a better classification of degree than those students who do not include a placement. Design/methodology/approach: The study was conducted by extracting the profiles of computing students from the database of a UK based university. Data collected included the marks and academic performance throughout the course of the students' degree, educational background, age and gender. In total, the profiles of 290 students were analysed to understand the impact of a work placement on their degree. Findings: The results show that 58 per cent of those students who had been on a work placement achieved an upper second or first class degree, whereas only 37 per cent of non-placement students achieved the same academic standards. Furthermore, this study also established that this result is not because work placement students are academically more capable to begin with, as originally believed by many researchers. Practical implications: Direction for further research would involve investigating different cohorts of students and in different subject areas. However, the initial findings from this study could be used as a starting point in an attempt to encourage students to include a work placement as part of their degree. Originality/value: Rather than simply performing a comparison of degree classifications between the placement and non-placement students, this study goes further and investigates student performance during their entire three or four year degree course. Furthermore, this study also considers influences such as age, gender and educational background on the results. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Rehman SU, Coughlan J, Halim Z, 2012, Usability based reliable and cashless payment system (RCPS), International Journal of Innovative Computing, Information and Control, Vol: 8, Pages: 2747-2759, ISSN: 1349-4198
The advent of e-payment systems has promulgated considerable design and usability issues. These concerns have manifested themselves as the key inhibitors to the success of electronic payment systems. Credit and debit cards have proved to be popular alternatives to cash payments in retail transactions. However, this is merely due to the unavailability of a system that would provide a reasonable alternative to the threats posed in carrying them. We attempt to propose a system that provides a platform for cashless transactions based on reliability and usability features. The Reliable and Cashless Payment System (RCPS) entails the involvement of an accredited financial institution that invokes an element of trust essential to design of an effective payment system. In this paper we address the security flaws in modern payment systems and propose a model that would make possible payments without cash or credit cards. We do also consider HCI issues, usability concerns and soaring financial crime rate in our milieu. © 2012 ICIC International.
Coughlan J, Jamal A, Macredie RD, 2012, AGENT: Alumni growth and engagement across new technologies, Pages: 763-769
The AGENT project aims to use social networking technologies (LinkedIn and Facebook) to support the development of undergraduates' employability and career development. The focus of the project is on e-mentoring by alumni to provide a 'bridge' between individuals whose social ties and connections are weakened by time and distance, whilst at the same time capitalising on the learning opportunities afforded by the widening of social networks. Social networking sites (SNSs) have been shown to provide students with the tools to make connections, build relationships and support personal development. From a social capital perspective, SNSs can support 'weak ties' by allowing students to grow a social network from which to draw resources in the form of information, knowledge, advice and expertise that an institution's alumni can provide. Alumni are a key resource for building professional networking communities that can provide offline as well as online support to students. We report on an on-going JISC project-AGENT (Alumni Growth and Engagement across New Technologies) that explores how Web 2.0 technologies engage alumni, create the sense of belonging, develop more effective and mutually-beneficial alumni-student connections and associated positive social capital outcomes.
Coughlan J, Swift S, 2011, Student and tutor perceptions of learning and teaching on a firstyear study skills module in a university computing department, Educational Studies, Vol: 37, Pages: 529-539, ISSN: 0305-5698
The level of student preparedness for university-level study has been widely debated. Effective study skills modules have been linked to supporting students' academic development during the transition phase. However, few studies have evaluated the learning experience on study skills modules from both a student and staff perspective. We surveyed 121 first-year students and seven tutors on a study skills module on an undergraduate computing programme. The aspects in which the students' and tutors' views diverge provide insights into the perceptions of academic tasks and associated competencies for higher education and the delivery of study skills in practice for computing students. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.
Coughlan J, Eatock J, Patel N, 2011, Simulating the use of re-prioritisation as a wait-reduction strategy in an emergency department., Emerg Med J, Vol: 28, Pages: 1013-1018
BACKGROUND/AIM: Simulation modelling has proven a useful approach for capturing the dynamic nature of emergency departments (EDs) and informing improvements to clinical and operational processes alike. However, few models have simulated the impact of the UK Department of Health's 4 h operational standard, which arguably has placed pressure to improve standards and performance, promoting the use of wait-reduction strategies to cope with the target in practice. The aim of this study was to determine the impact a re-prioritisation strategy has on the 4 h target by simulating the operation of an ED using a model that represents the flow of patients through the department. METHODS: This study was based on a district general hospital in West London. To ascertain patients' length of stay, the hospital's historical records and staff rotas were used to obtain data on activities, timeframes and resources on three separate representative weeks and included all patients' arrival time, mode of arrival, whether the patient was referred to minors, majors, paediatrics or the resuscitation unit, and whether the patient was admitted or discharged, and at what time. RESULTS: The close correlation (r=0.98) in distributions between actual length of stay and simulated length of stay demonstrates that the model of the ED accurately replicates the 4 h peak caused by the use of re-prioritisation. CONCLUSION: The model accurately reproduced the use of a dominant wait-reduction strategy to identify patients approaching the breach and re-prioritise them to expedite treatment and remove them from the department by the 4 h target.
Coughlan J, Brinkman WP, 2011, Design considerations for delivering E-learning to surgical trainees, International Journal of E-Health and Medical Communications, Vol: 2, Pages: 14-23, ISSN: 1947-315X
Challenges remain in leveraging e-health technologies for continuous medical education/professional development. This study examines the interface design and learning process features related to the use of multimedia in providing effective support for the knowledge and practice of surgical skills. Twenty-one surgical trainees evaluated surgical content on a CD-ROM format based on 14 interface design and 11 learning process features using a questionnaire adapted from an established tool created to assess educational multimedia. Significant Spearman's correlations were found for seven of the 14 interface design features - 'Navigation', 'Learning demands', 'Videos', 'Media integration', 'Level of material', 'Information presentation' and 'Overall functionality', explaining ratings of the learning process. The interplay of interface design and learning process features of educational multimedia highlight key design considerations in e-learning. An understanding of these features is relevant to the delivery of surgical training, reflecting the current state of the art in transferring static CD-ROM content to the dynamic web or creating CD/web hybrid models of education. Copyright © 2011, IGI Global.
Coughlan J, Macredie RD, Patel N, 2011, Understanding the consumption process through in-branch and e-mortgage service channels: A first-time buyer perspective, International Journal of Bank Marketing, Vol: 29, Pages: 148-167, ISSN: 0265-2323
Purpose – The twin aims of this paper are to explore the differences in the consumption process between the traditional in-branch and web-based (e-mortgage) service channels and how the differences relate to any problems identified in the electronic service environment, with respect to information search and product evaluation. Design/methodology/approach – A process-oriented approach comparing the two service channels (in-branch vs e-mortgage) was conducted in two study phases. Data from the e-mortgage process were collected using protocol analysis with 12 first-time buyers (FTBs) applying on a website belonging either to a hybrid or to an internet-only bank. Results of the e-mortgage process were mapped on to stages of the in-branch process, which was captured by observation of six FTB mortgage interviews to determine the level of correspondence and emergent issues. Findings – Support for the FTB in the e-mortgage process was problematic and service provision was found to be product- rather than consumer-oriented. Practical implications – The study highlights the importance of design issues in the electronic service environment for creating confidence in the online advice and information available on home mortgages for FTBs. Originality/value – The paper promotes increased understanding by financial service providers of the characteristics that support the consultative selling process for complex products such as mortgages and inform multichannel retailing. © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Rehman SU, Coughlan JL, 2011, Building trust of mobile users and their adoption of m-commerce, World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, Vol: 51, Pages: 592-594, ISSN: 2010-376X
One challenging direction of mobile commerce (mcommerce) that is getting a great deal of attention globally is mobile financing. The smart-phone and PDA users all around the world are facing difficulties to become accustomed and trust in m-commerce. The main rationale can be the slow variation and lack of trust in mobile payment systems. Mobile payment systems that are in use need to be more effective and efficient. This paper proposes: the interface design is not the only factor affecting the m-commerce adoption and lack of trust; in fact it is the combined effect of interface usability and trustworthy mobile payment systems, because it's the money that the user has to spend at the end of the day, which the user requires to get transferred securely. The purpose of this research is to identify the problems regarding the trust and adaption of m-commerce applications by mobile users and to provide the best possible solution with respect to human computer interaction (HCI) principles.
Rehman SU, Coughlan JL, 2011, Building trust of mobile users and their adoption of M-commerce, World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, Vol: 75, Pages: 593-595, ISSN: 2010-376X
One challenging direction of mobile commerce (mcommerce) that is getting a great deal of attention globally is mobile financing. The smart-phone and PDA users all around the world are facing difficulties to become accustomed and trust in m-commerce. The main rationale can be the slow variation and lack of trust in mobile payment systems. Mobile payment systems that are in use need to be more effective and efficient. This paper proposes: the interface design is not the only factor affecting the m-commerce adoption and lack of trust; in fact it is the combined effect of interface usability and trustworthy mobile payment systems, because it's the money that the user has to spend at the end of the day, which the user requires to get transferred securely. The purpose of this research is to identify the problems regarding the trust and adaption of m-commerce applications by mobile users and to provide the best possible solution with respect to human computer interaction (HCI) principles.
Ur Rehman S, Coughlan J, 2011, Smart agent for automated e-commerce, Pages: 124-128
E-commerce is becoming more widespread as its ability being recognize to rapidly respond to requests and as more products and services become available. At the present time, only human beings are able to understand the services and product information published online. This cause unnecessary delay in decision making and increase the efforts of humans. In current e-World agents are replacing humans to perform the same tasks in much smarter ways. They negotiate, decide and perform on behalf of humans. Nevertheless, price is the one of the major criterion by which agents are created. This factor is easy to measure and automate. In this paper, we present an agent based model for B2C e-commerce, which deploys intelligent agents to facilitate autonomous and automatic on-line searching by intelligent agents which quickly responds to customers requests. System rests on 3-tier application and ontology of books and implementation of searching and comparison module to gain the deep perspective of domain. Implementing the architecture for online services, that is, searching the product from online web sites and comparing that product amongst different web sites and getting the result of cheapest price at the run time is our main objective. We analyzed the effectiveness of the model by customer-driven web site which provided information about products in an efficient way. The basic purpose was to satisfy our customers and search the product in cheapest price. © 2011 IEEE.
Ahmed JS, Coughlan J, Edwards M, et al., 2009, User interface evaluation of a multimedia CD-ROM for teaching minor skin surgery, Behaviour and Information Technology, Vol: 28, Pages: 269-279, ISSN: 0144-929X
Expert operative information is a prerequisite for any form of surgical training. However, the shortening of working hours has reduced surgical training time and learning opportunities. As a potential solution to this problem, multimedia programs have been designed to provide computer-based assistance to surgical trainees outside of the operating theatre. Few studies, however, have focused on the interface features of surgical multimedia programs, the successful design of which could be conducive to the evaluation of the effectiveness of learning. This study evaluated a multimedia CD-ROM designed for teaching minor skin surgery. A questionnaire, based on an existing user interface rating tool, was administered to 20 trainees (both junior and senior) in plastic surgery. Findings from the study revealed trainees' high rating of the CD-ROM on a scale of 1-10 (mean=8); the analysis of which contributes towards an understanding of both the characteristics of the learning material and the learners in the evaluation of the user interface.
Chen S, Coughlan J, Love S, et al., 2008, Cognitive implications of informationSpaces: Human issues in the design and use of electronic library interfaces, Digital Convergence-Libraries of the Future, Pages: 253-271, ISBN: 9781846289026
This chapter reviews some of themost important human dimensions applicable to the design and use of information spaces, with a focus on library applications. The chapter begins with an introduction to the area of information spaces, presenting an established view of human information processing that can be used to understand the way in which users make sense of information that is presented to them through information spaces. Designing effective systems that allow access to information spaces is a complex problem and there has been substantial research into the area. This chapter will turn to describing a set of well-established principles,drawn from the work of Norman (1988), that views consistent and well-grounded design as a key issue in alleviating problems of use by considering design in relation to users. To this end, a design case is presented to explore user task scenarios with respect to a particular library application, thus illustrating the emerging usability issues as they relate to interface design features. Notwithstanding the importance of the high-level design principles, the diverse background of the individual users accessing information spaces are not necessarily acknowledged or addressed. The chapter will therefore go on to present an analysis of what are argued to be the most important individual differences that can influence the way that users interact with systems and make sense of the information that they encounter. Finally, the chapter will consider the design of information spaces to allow for their context of use in terms of issues related to devices and mobility that are likely to become increasingly important in the coming few years for the provision of information spaces and the electronic library interface. © 2008 Springer-Verlag London Limited.
Coughlan J, Morar SS, 2008, Development of a tool for evaluating multimedia for surgical education., J Surg Res, Vol: 149, Pages: 94-100
BACKGROUND: Educational multimedia has been designed to provide surgical trainees with expert operative information outside of the operating theater. The effectiveness of multimedia (e.g., CD-ROMs) for learning has been a common research topic since the 1990s. To date, however, little discussion has taken place on the mechanisms to evaluate the quality of multimedia-driven teaching. This may be because of a lack of research into the development of appropriate tools for evaluating multimedia, especially for surgical education. METHODS: This paper reports on a small-scale pilot and exploratory study (n = 12) that developed a tool for surgical multimedia evaluation. The validity of the developed tool was established through adaptation of an existing tool, which was reviewed using experts in surgery, usability, and education. The reliability of the developed tool was tested with surgical trainees who used it to assess a multimedia CD-ROM created for teaching basic surgical skills. RESULTS: The findings contribute to an understanding of surgical trainees' experience of using educational multimedia, in terms of characteristics of the learning material for interface design and content and the process of developing evaluation tools, in terms of inclusion of appropriate assessment criteria. CONCLUSIONS: The increasing use of multimedia in medical education necessitates the development of standardized tools for determining the quality of teaching and learning. Little research exists into the development of such tools and so the present work stimulates discussion on how to evaluate surgical training.
Edwards MH, Coughlan J, Morar S, 2007, Eliciting and storing operative information from expert surgeons using surgical scripts: a content analysis study., Int J Surg, Vol: 5, Pages: 267-272
INTRODUCTION: Surgical trainees learn many of the minutiae of operative technique at the operating table. As trainees' operating exposure decreases, so will the opportunity for the trainee to work with and learn from a range of different surgeons. Surgical scripts provide a complementary source of expert operative information from individual surgeons. This pilot study examines whether a surgical script is an effective way of eliciting the combined operative information from a group of surgical experts. METHODS: One operative step was taken from a surgical script: tracing the right ureter in a right hemicolectomy. A group of surgeons were asked to review the information supporting this step in the script and to add all their own hints and tips for the step. The comments elicited from the surgeons were subjected to content analysis. RESULTS: The original script contained 15 points of information backing up the ureter step, more than 3 times as many as in the most detailed operative textbook found. Nineteen surgeons contributed 50 additional comments, providing more detail, extra information, alternative techniques and different opinions. Some of the comments have been incorporated into a revised script. CONCLUSION: This pilot study showed that a surgical script is an effective way of eliciting and storing detailed operative information from a group of surgeons. The relevance of these findings is discussed. The resulting scripts on line should be helpful in optimising trainees' operating time.
Coughlan J, Macredie RD, Patel N, 2007, Evaluating the effectiveness of customers' communication experiences with online retailers - A study of e-mortgages, Interacting with Computers, Vol: 19, Pages: 83-95, ISSN: 0953-5438
Retailers increasingly use the Internet for supporting customer interaction in the delivery of products and services online, whilst simultaneously displacing direct communication to a seller with 'faceless' technology. Research has tended to marginalise the importance of this communication change, possibly because of the lack of appropriate models for evaluating communication effectiveness. This paper therefore seeks to develop and apply such an evaluative model, which is underpinned by communication theory. The context of application is e-mortgage lending - based on the selection of two banks' interfaces - as evidence suggests that this type of e-commerce activity presents difficulties in electronic communication where, for example, the customer need for face-to-face mortgage advice prevails. Findings from the model's application reveal that whilst users respond socially to the interfaces, a number of communication problems can be identified by theme. Reflection is provided on the model's usefulness for evaluating the effectiveness of customers' online communication experiences. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Coughlan J, Macredie R, Patel N, 2007, Moving face-to-face communication to Web-based systems, Interacting with Computers, Vol: 19, Pages: 1-6, ISSN: 0953-5438
The Internet has changed the way that we interact with each other and with technology, mainly owing to the huge availability of information and people's need to access this information. Moving face-to-face communication to Web-based systems has led to an emerging consumerism based on information and underpinned by a complex process of communication. However, our understanding of what we refer to as information consumer communication is still unclear, as we try to reconcile traditional ways of communicating face-to-face with new and developing ICT technologies. This poor understanding may in part be because of a lack of appropriate research models and frameworks to guide investigations into the information consumer communication process across different contexts from which knowledge could be applied (e.g., from e-commerce). The research model that we provide (in Fig. 1) to conceptualise this process is a starting point for understanding the communication between information consumers and service providers in commerce, education, health and government. It also highlights areas (e.g., the consumer-interface relationship) that further research could support, for example, in the design and evaluation of Web interfaces that can stimulate social responses in consumers and become more reflective of (if not an improvement on) the real-life information consumer experience. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Coughlan J, Eatock J, Eldabi T, 2006, Evaluating telemedicine: a focus on patient pathways., Int J Technol Assess Health Care, Vol: 22, Pages: 136-142, ISSN: 0266-4623
Evaluations of telemedicine have sought to assess various measures of effectiveness (e.g., diagnostic accuracy), efficiency (e.g., cost), and engagement (e.g., patient satisfaction) to determine its success. Few studies, however, have looked at evaluating the organizational impact of telemedicine, which involves technology and process changes that affect the way that it is used and accepted by patients and clinicians alike. This study reviews and discusses the conceptual issues in telemedicine research and proposes a fresh approach for evaluating telemedicine. First, we advance a patient pathway perspective, as most of the existing studies view telemedicine as a support to a singular rather than multiple aspects of a health care process. Second, to conceptualize patient pathways and understand how telemedicine impacts upon them, we propose simulation as a tool to enhance understanding of the traditional and telemedicine patient pathway.
Coughlan J, Lycett M, Macredie RD, 2005, Understanding the business-IT relationship, International Journal of Information Management, Vol: 25, Pages: 303-319, ISSN: 0268-4012
The relationship between the business and IT departments in the context of the organisation has been characterised as highly divisive. Contributing problems appear to revolve around the failure to adequately communicate and understand the required information for the alignment of business and IT strategies and infrastructures. This study takes a communication-based view on the concept of alignment, in terms of the relationship between the retail business and IT within a major high street UK bank. A research framework (PICTURE) is used to provide insight into this relationship and guide the analysis of interviews with 29 individuals on mid-high management level for their thematic content. The paper highlights the lessons that can be derived from the study of the BIT relationship and how possible improvements could be made. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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