Home // International Journal On Advances in Life Sciences, volume 6, numbers 3 and 4, 2014 // View article

An Interactive Web Tool to Facilitate Shared Decision Making in Dementia: Design Issues Perceived by Caregivers and Patients

Authors:
Marijke Span
Carolien Smits
Leontine Groen-van de Ven
Jan Jukema
Ruud Janssen
Myrra Vernooij-Dassen
Jan Eefsting
Marike Hettinga

Keywords: dementia, shared decision making, participatory design, assistive technology, interactive web tool.

Abstract:
The aim of this study is to identify design issues (both weaknesses and strengths) that should be considered for designing a user-friendly design of an interactive web tool that facilitates shares decision making in care networks of people with dementia. Our research questions are: 1) What design issues can be identified? and 2) What is the unique contribution of people with dementia to the design? This study, with its iterative participatory design based on the CeHRes roadmap included six separate focus group sessions with people with dementia, informal caregivers, and case managers; a cognitive walkthrough with researchers; and usability tests with case managers, older adults, informal caregivers, and people with dementia. The design issues were: a screen design based on pleasant and harmonious colors, the use of clear and uniform buttons throughout the interface, the use of multiple-choice questions with smileys as answering options, a foldable menu bar that is closed (for people with dementia) or open (for caregivers) by default, and the incorporation of a chat function that specifically keeps all end users involved in a conversation. The specific and detailed contribution of the participants with dementia dealt with their focus on the present, accuracy of language, and the graphical layout. However, other participants doubted whether the tool would be useful and usable for people with dementia. Designing a user-friendly, interactive web tool for people with different capacities, interests, and perspectives is challenging. People with dementia contributed uniquely to the design of the web tool. A pilot study will show whether the doubts of some of the participants are valid.

Pages: 107 to 121

Copyright: Copyright (c) to authors, 2014. Used with permission.

Publication date: December 30, 2014

Published in: journal

ISSN: 1942-2660