TY - JOUR
T1 - A qualitative study of the implementation of a bioinformatics tool in a biological research laboratory
AU - Anderson, Nicholas R.
AU - Ash, Joan S.
AU - Tarczy-Hornoch, Peter
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Dr. Christopher Dubay for his support during the research period, Dr. Kenneth Guappone for his analysis assistance, and acknowledge National Library of Medicine Training Grant (Biomedical Health Informatics training program) T15LM07442 for providing the funding to support part of this work.
PY - 2007/11
Y1 - 2007/11
N2 - Objective: To explore how the implementation of a comprehensive new bioinformatics analysis system would affect workflow, collaboration and information management in a small genetic research lab. Design: This was a longitudinal qualitative study of seven individuals involved in genomic and proteomic research. The study data were gathered using the illuminative/responsive approach of immersion in the environment. Additional qualitative data were gathered using informal semi-structured interviews, participant observation in lab meetings, and direct observation of lab researchers engaged in specific tasks. Measurements: Interview, observation and field note data were coded and analyzed based on three analysis perspectives. A subset of the data was independently evaluated by an external researcher to enhance the trustworthiness of results. Results: Three reoccurring themes were observed in the study. (1) Satisfaction and acceptance of software tools tended to be role and goal specific. (2) The system was seen primarily as a measurement system rather than a "total laboratory analysis system". (3) Lab meetings deemphasized the system, preferring more traditional data analysis techniques. These themes support the observations that the system was not used to its full potential in the lab. Conclusion: Themes identified in this study suggest that sophisticated genetic researchers face similar problems of technology implementation as do professionals in other fields. We recommend that leadership support and on-going training and evolution of academic curricula can improve chances of bioinformatics analysis systems becoming used more effectively.
AB - Objective: To explore how the implementation of a comprehensive new bioinformatics analysis system would affect workflow, collaboration and information management in a small genetic research lab. Design: This was a longitudinal qualitative study of seven individuals involved in genomic and proteomic research. The study data were gathered using the illuminative/responsive approach of immersion in the environment. Additional qualitative data were gathered using informal semi-structured interviews, participant observation in lab meetings, and direct observation of lab researchers engaged in specific tasks. Measurements: Interview, observation and field note data were coded and analyzed based on three analysis perspectives. A subset of the data was independently evaluated by an external researcher to enhance the trustworthiness of results. Results: Three reoccurring themes were observed in the study. (1) Satisfaction and acceptance of software tools tended to be role and goal specific. (2) The system was seen primarily as a measurement system rather than a "total laboratory analysis system". (3) Lab meetings deemphasized the system, preferring more traditional data analysis techniques. These themes support the observations that the system was not used to its full potential in the lab. Conclusion: Themes identified in this study suggest that sophisticated genetic researchers face similar problems of technology implementation as do professionals in other fields. We recommend that leadership support and on-going training and evolution of academic curricula can improve chances of bioinformatics analysis systems becoming used more effectively.
KW - Bioinformatics
KW - Evaluation studies
KW - Systems analysis
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2006.09.022
DO - 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2006.09.022
M3 - Article
C2 - 17084664
AN - SCOPUS:35348845926
SN - 1386-5056
VL - 76
SP - 821
EP - 828
JO - International Journal of Medical Informatics
JF - International Journal of Medical Informatics
IS - 11-12
ER -