Introducing Emotional Interfaces to Healthcare Systems

Abstract

Abstract. The use of healthcare websites is gaining importance in the United States. It is conceivable that when using healthcare websites, the users may not be in a happy or euphoric emotional state, and would like to be comforted. In this paper, we argue that using emotional interfaces in healthcare systems will attract users, and motivate them to stay, participate and return. We suggest a possible future state for emotional interfaces in healthcare systems. In this context, we present a review of relevant theories and research studies from Computer Science and Psychology, and a subjective ranking of some well-known healthcare websites in the United States with respect to their hedonic and emotional values. Lastly, we discuss our proposal for developing emotional interfaces for healthcare websites.

Inexorable transformation in healthcare-seeking behaviour: a paradigm of choice

“…The results of our study also endorse a subtle mutation of healthcare-seeking behaviour towards hedonism. The literature on hedonic consumer behaviour underlines the traits of show-good fantasies of impulsive consumer behaviour, instead of being grounded in a feel-good (Batra and Ahtola, 1991;Crowley et al, 1992;Voss, et al, 2003;Parthasarathy and Fang, 2013). Any undesirable change towards the experiential value of healthcare seeking, subduing its existential paradigm, is an obvious precursor of sub-optimal resource utilization in the healthcare sector, with an inescapable trade-off of preventive or curative healthcare services.…”

“…Marketing strategy draws much from the general consumer attitudes and behaviour; they are the univocal ones to purchase decisions. Studies (Wakefield and Barnes, 1996;Chitturi et al, 2008;Parthasarathy and Fang, 2013) confirm that customers' delight, which is accomplished from fulfilling their hedonic benefits, will culminate in referrals and re-purchase intentions. People are more likely to consume hedonic goods if they can justify the decision context (Okada, 2005).…”

“…The second dimension is hedonism, evidencing the satisfaction from sensory attributes, such as excitement and cheerfulness (Chitturi et al, 2008), stirring up the instantaneous pleasure-oriented goals (Henson et al, 2006), resulting from the experience of using the product or services (Voss, et al, 2003). Commodities or services, with a hedonic orientation, are designed and offered to individuals' sensations on multi-sensory channels with pleasurable outcomes (Parthasarathy and Fang, 2013). Marketing strategy draws much from the general consumer attitudes and behaviour; they are the univocal ones to purchase decisions.…”

“…The research concedes that healthcare interventions linked to lifestyle should be aligned to emotional or affective evidencing pleasure and fun-feeling designs than of functional aspect (Alagöz et al, 2010). On examining the subjective values of some wellknown US healthcare websites, Parthasarathy and Fang (2013) argue that emotional interfaces in healthcare systems can attract users, encourage them to be loyal and make them repurchase.…”

A Tool for Emotional User Experience Assessment of Web-Based Medical Services

“…Users would also need to trust the information presented on a healthcare website. In the field of medical website design, it is important to have an interface that is not only efficient and effective in terms of usability, but is an emotional-oriented interface (Parthasarathy & Fang, 2013). An appropriate website design that caters for both functional and emotional elements will enhance the image of doctors and other health professionals on the internet, as well as the medical facility.…”