Journal of Modern Medical

Introduction: Database design by taking into account the components of user interface, usability and technical issues, is a key indicator of quick access to the required information of the users. Ovid assessment criterion evaluates databases in terms of user interface, usability and technical issues. The purpose of the present paper is to determine the important elements in the design of user interface, usability, and technical issues of databases.

Methods: The present study is an applied study that has been conducted through Literature Review method and the required information was collected through the study of resources and by searching for articles on websites and in databases of relevant literature (the components of Ovid assessment criterion). Validity of Ovid assessment criterion was confirmed by 5 experts of Library and Information Sciences. Free Plane software has been used to draw the components of Ovid assessment criterion.

Results: Findings showed that in order to evaluate usability, technical issues and databases user interface, the Ovid criterion uses 48 sub-components grouped in six main criteria (including search, services, display, Links, guides or documentations, and performance). In addition, the search criterion consists of 20 sub-components, display criterion have 11 sub-components, services criterion has 6 sub-components, links criterion has 2 sub-components, guiding criterion has 4 sub-components, and performance criterion has 5 sub-components.

Conclusion: Designers must pay attention to user interface, usability and technical issues because these components play an important role in facilitating information routing and users can in the shortest time and simply to meet their information needs. In fact, by complying with a standard or criterion in creating databases, rate of access to the required information is considerably increased.