The usability and user experience of an interactive e-learning platform to empower older adults when using electronic personal health records: an online intervention study

Abstract

Since the introduction of the electronic Personal Health Record (ePHR) in Germany in 2021, usage rates among those with statutory health insurance have remained below 1%. The patient-administered conception of the ePHR presents access barriers, particularly for older adults. This study aimed to evaluate an e-learning platform as an empowerment tool for ePHR usage, tailored toward older adults. In this explorative study, a micro-learning-based prototype platform for effective utilization of the ePHR was evaluated through both an online (n = 53) and a face-to-face (n = 6) intervention. The usability of the e-learning platform was measured using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and user experience with the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ). The mean rating in the SUS was 67.9 in the online group and 70.4 in the face-to-face group. For participants of the online group, only the perspicuity subscale of the UEQ was rated above average compared to the benchmark. There was a strong positive correlation between usability and the perception of how learning content was presented, as measured by the eHealth Impact Questionnaire, in the online group (p = < 0.001, r(40) = 0.72). An investigation of the face-to-face group helped identify key usability challenges. The results of our study suggest that aspects of the target group-oriented design of the learning platform, in particular, still need to be improved. The insights gleaned from this study will contribute to the ongoing development of the learning platform in subsequent phases. Future studies will investigate the platform’s effectiveness in empowering older adults.Trial Registration The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (registration number: DRKS00029700) and received approval from the Ethics Committee of the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (application number: EA1/081/22).