Digital Health (Jun 2023)

User-centered design of feedback regarding health-related behaviors derived from wearables: An approach targeting older adults and persons living with neurodegenerative disease

  • Karen Van Ooteghem,
  • F Elizabeth Godkin,
  • Vanessa Thai,
  • Kit B Beyer,
  • Benjamin F Cornish,
  • Kyle S Weber,
  • Hannah Bernstein,
  • Soha O Kheiri,
  • Richard H Swartz,
  • Brian Tan,
  • William E McIlroy,
  • Angela C Roberts

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231179031
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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Objective There has been tremendous growth in wearable technologies for health monitoring but limited efforts to optimize methods for sharing wearables-derived information with older adults and clinical cohorts. This study aimed to co-develop, design and evaluate a personalized approach for information-sharing regarding daily health-related behaviors captured with wearables. Methods A participatory research approach was adopted with: (a) iterative stakeholder, and evidence-led development of feedback reporting; and (b) evaluation in a sample of older adults (n = 15) and persons living with neurodegenerative disease (NDD) (n = 25). Stakeholders included persons with lived experience, healthcare providers, health charity representatives and individuals involved in aging/NDD research. Feedback report information was custom-derived from two limb-mounted inertial measurement units and a mobile electrocardiography device worn by participants for 7–10 days. Mixed methods were used to evaluate reporting 2 weeks following delivery. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics for the group and stratified by cohort and cognitive status. Results Participants (n = 40) were 60% female (median 72 (60–87) years). A total of 82.5% found the report easy to read or understand, 80% reported the right amount of information was shared, 90% found the information helpful, 92% shared the information with a family member or friend and 57.5% made a behavior change. Differences emerged in sub-group comparisons. A range of participant profiles existed in terms of interest, uptake and utility. Conclusions The reporting approach was generally well-received with perceived value that translated into enhanced self-awareness and self-management of daily health-related behaviors. Future work should examine potential for scale, and the capacity for wearables-derived feedback to influence longer-term behavior change.