Exploring user experience and technology acceptance for a fall prevention system: results from a randomized clinical trial and a living lab

Abstract

BackgroundFalls are common in older adults and can result in serious injuries. Due to demographic changes, falls and related healthcare costs are likely to increase over the next years. Participation and motivation of older adults in fall prevention measures remain a challenge. The iStoppFalls project developed an information and communication technology (ICT)-based system for older adults to use at home in order to reduce common fall risk factors such as impaired balance and muscle weakness. The system aims at increasing older adults’ motivation to participate in ICT-based fall prevention measures. This article reports on usability, user-experience and user-acceptance aspects affecting the use of the iStoppFalls system by older adults.MethodsIn the course of a 16-week international multicenter study, 153 community-dwelling older adults aged 65+ participated in the iStoppFalls randomized controlled trial, of which half used the system in their home to exercise and assess their risk of falling. During the study, 60 participants completed questionnaires regarding the usability, user experience and user acceptance of the iStoppFalls system. Usability was measured with the System Usability Scale (SUS). For user experience the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) was applied. User acceptance was assessed with the Dynamic Acceptance Model for the Re-evaluation of Technologies (DART). To collect more detailed data on usability, user experience and user acceptance, additional qualitative interviews and observations were conducted with participants.ResultsParticipants evaluated the usability of the system with an overall score of 62 (Standard Deviation, SD 15.58) out of 100, which suggests good usability. Most users enjoyed the iStoppFalls games and assessments, as shown by the overall PACES score of 31 (SD 8.03). With a score of 0.87 (SD 0.26), user acceptance results showed that participants accepted the iStoppFalls system for use in their own home. Interview data suggested that certain factors such as motivation, complexity or graphical design were different for gender and age.ConclusionsThe results suggest that the iStoppFalls system has good usability, user experience and user acceptance. It will be important to take these along with factors such as motivation, gender and age into consideration when designing and further developing ICT-based fall prevention systems.

A usability study of a multicomponent video game-based training for older adults

“…An acceptable usability of the Active@Home exergame prototype was evident in the questionnaire ratings with a SUS score of 75/100 after three training sessions as well as at the end of the intervention. This result is in line with previous studies showing that exergames are in general well accepted and usable for older adults, especially when considering their needs [29,35,64]. However, some limitations were evident in the observations of supervisors during training and in the feedback of participants.…”

“…The System Usability Scale (SUS) includes 10 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = "strongly disagree" to 4 = "strongly agree") and is a validated and reliable scale for evaluating subjective usability of newly developed devices and systems [63,64]. The sum of all item scores was multiplied with 2.5 and led to the SUS score ranging between 0 to 100, whereas higher scores indicate better usability [63].…”

“…Moreover, a simple set-up, stable connections, and an intuitive interaction with the system are mandatory aspects especially when the training system is expected to be deployed at older adults' home. The importance of an age-appropriate design and flawless technical functionality were emphasized to be crucial for the usability of exergames [64,88,89]. Otherwise, technological problems can lead to unintentional avoidance and disuse of a training system.…”

Exergames versus self-regulated exercises with instruction leaflets to improve adherence during geriatric rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial

“…The only available randomized controlled trial [28] compared exercises at home and at a medical center, focusing on usability, user experience and user acceptance. Other available studies focus on older adults, either with brain injury or with cognitive impairment, living in the community.…”

A review of Age Friendly Virtual Assistive Technologies and their Effect on Daily Living for Carers and Dependent Adults.

“…Participants assigned to the intervention group showed greater adherence and an improvement in postural sway, step reaction and executive function [56]. purpose-built system, Vaziri and colleagues [59] deployed the System Usability Scale (SUS) [60], the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) [61] and the Dynamic Acceptance Model for the Reevaluation of Technologies (DART) [62], coupled with interviews and observations of participants. The results showed the ISF ICT-based system to have an overall score of 62 out of 100, indicating good usability, with most users enjoying the ISF exergames.…”