mHealth Apps for Older Adults: A Method for Development and User Experience Design Evaluation

Kirkscey, Russell

doi:10.1177/0047281620907939

Cited by 28 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 53 publications

(48 reference statements)

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“…Notably, as with similar studies [ 37 ], older adults have a lower uptake of health apps than younger individuals. Despite low adoption of mHealth apps, recent studies focused on tailored mHealth apps for older adults [ 38 , 39 ]. The increase in the development of novel mHealth targeting the elderly provides an opportunity to improve their PA and fitness levels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

User Engagement and Abandonment of mHealth: A Cross-Sectional Survey

et al. 2022

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Mobile health (mHealth) apps have great potential to improve health outcomes. Given that mHealth apps have become ubiquitous, there is limited focus on their abandonment. Data concerning crucial metrics, including reasons for adoption and discontinued use, are limited. This study aims to gain broad insights into utilization of mHealth and game-like features promoting user engagement. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 209 mHealth users worldwide. The 17-item survey assessed sociodemographics, as well as the key motivators for mHealth uptake and discontinued use. Our findings show that sports and fitness activity tracking were the most common categories of health apps, with most users engaging with them at least several times a week. Interestingly, the most downloaded mHealth apps among younger adults include MyFitnessPal, Fitbit, Nike Run Club, and Samsung Health. Critical drivers of abandonment of mHealth apps were amotivation, loss of interest, and experimenting with different apps to identify the most suitable tool. Additionally, the financial cost of mHealth apps is crucial, with most participants advocating for free or more affordable apps. The study findings suggest that while many individuals utilize mHealth, several factors drive their abandonment. Moreover, data indicate that mHealth developers need to consider gamification strategies to sustain user commitment, as well as psychological variables, such as intrinsic motivation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

User Engagement and Abandonment of mHealth: A Cross-Sectional Survey

et al. 2022

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“…UX design has notably developed and evolved in the last few years, including the application of UX to the development of mHealth apps [33,[47][48][49], and it is likely that teams engaged in this work will find it easier to find developers versed in the UX principles. There is also a broad body of literature on this topic.…”

Section: Comparison With Prior Work and Future Directions: Ux Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The systematic review by Noorbergen [ 30 ] found that co-design approaches tend to embed stakeholders in early phases (eg, predesign and generative) but not throughout. Conceptually similar to co-design, UX or UX design emphasizes incorporating the perceptions of users resulting from their own experiences using a service or product through processes such as usability testing [ 32 , 33 ]. Within the UX field, principles of human-centered design can support the development of products that address the needs and capabilities of users [ 34 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Focusing on the needs and capabilities of users also reflects what Wildenboss et al [ 28 ] and Li et al [ 29 ] specifically stated about designing for older users. More recently, researchers have offered specific UX design approaches with and for older adults, notably Russell Kirkscey [ 33 , 35 ]. Relationships and trust building have been identified as important elements of these approaches [ 31 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lessons and Reflections From an Extended Co-design Process Developing an mHealth App With and for Older Adults: Multiphase, Mixed Methods Study

Tong¹,

Kernoghan²,

Lemmon³

et al. 2022

JMIR Aging

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Background There are many mobile health (mHealth) apps for older adult patients, but research has found that broadly speaking, mHealth still fails to meet the specific needs of older adult users. Others have highlighted the need to embed users in the mHealth design process in a fulsome and meaningful way. Co-design has been widely used in the development of mHealth apps and involves stakeholders in each phase of the design and development process. The involvement of older adults in the co-design processes is variable. To date, co-design approaches have tended toward embedding the stakeholders in early phases (eg, predesign and generative) but not throughout. Objective The aim of this study was to reflect on the processes and lessons learned from engaging in an extended co-design process to develop an mHealth app for older adults, with older users contributing at each phase. This study aimed to design an mHealth tool to assist older adults in coordinating their care with health care professionals and caregivers. Methods Our work to conceptualize, develop, and test the mHealth app consisted of 4 phases: phase 1, consulting stakeholders; phase 2, app development and co-designing with older adults; phase 3, field-testing with a smaller sample of older adult volunteer testers; and phase 4, reflecting, internally, on lessons learned from this process. In each phase, we drew on qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews and focus groups, all of which were analyzed in NVivo 11, using team-based thematic analysis. Results In phase 1, we identified key features that older adults and primary care providers wanted in an app, and each user group identified different priority features (older adults principally sought support to use the mHealth app, whereas primary care providers prioritized recoding illnesses, immunizations, and appointments). Phases 2 and 3 revealed significant mismatches between what the older adult users wanted and what our developers were able and willing to deliver. We were unable to craft the app that our consultations recommended, which the older adult field testers asked for. In phase 4, we reflected on our abilities to embed the voices and perspectives of older adults throughout the project when working with a developer not familiar with or committed to the core principles of co-design. We draw on this challenging experience to highlight several recommendations for those embarking on a co-design process that includes developers and IT vendors, researchers, and older adult users. Conclusions Although our final mHealth app did not reflect all the needs and wishes of our older adult testers, our consultation process identified key features and contextual information essential for those developing apps to support older adults in managing their health and health care.

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“…The rationale for conducting this study is to pursue future research to determine the relationship between an iterative design process of a mHealth application and its use by human research subjects over sixty-five years of age after obtaining IRB approval. Integrating UX principles such as designing for the user, accessibility, and hierarchy can improve mHealth technologies to enhance patient well-being [1][2][3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining UX Design Principles and Older Adults’ Preference of Online Appointment Scheduling Using a mHealth Application

Sutton

2020

Proceedings of the 38th ACM International Conference on Design of Communication

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This pre-pilot planning and assessment discusses preliminary research that targeted older adults' preferences for scheduling a doctor's appointment. Fifty total respondents between the ages of 21-61+ completed a twelve-question Qualtrics survey; twenty-one participants' responses were analyzed. Results showed no correlation between participants who used a smartphone and their preference for scheduling an appointment via a mobile application. This assessment suggests additional research is necessary to determine if information design could influence older adults' preference for scheduling a doctor's appointment using a mHealth app. ; CCS CONCEPTS • Human-centered computing → Interaction Design; • Interaction design process and methods;

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mHealth Apps for Older Adults: A Method for Development and User Experience Design Evaluation

Cited by 28 publications

References 53 publications

User Engagement and Abandonment of mHealth: A Cross-Sectional Survey

User Engagement and Abandonment of mHealth: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Lessons and Reflections From an Extended Co-design Process Developing an mHealth App With and for Older Adults: Multiphase, Mixed Methods Study

Examining UX Design Principles and Older Adults’ Preference of Online Appointment Scheduling Using a mHealth Application

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