EAI Endorsed Transactions on Pervasive Health and Technology (Mar 2022)

Influence of Motivational Design Techniques on Use and Acceptance of Self-Management Health Systems in Older Adults

  • Ine D’Haeseleer,
  • Jamie Schoofs,
  • Kim Schutters,
  • Dominique Schreurs,
  • Vero Abeele

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.24-11-2021.172219
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 30

Abstract

Read online

INTRODUCTION: Self-Management Health Systems (SMHS) are envisioned to support older adults andcontribute to ageing in place. To promote the use and acceptance of SMHS, designers may resort to usingmotivational design techniques (MDT).OBJECTIVES: This paper investigates how and which older adults prefer MDT in SMHS and whether thesepreferences are mediated by either motivation for health management (MHM) or mobile device proficiency (MDP).METHODS: Based on a user evaluation with 45 older adults (mean age=84, SD=6.75), 32 MDT, MHM, andMDP were polled through questionnaires and informal interviews.RESULTS: Findings showed that most techniques were welcomed, but also that scores vary widely, reflecting heterogeneity in the population and calling for caution in its implementation. These findings are then translated into implications for design.CONCLUSION: Overall, older adults welcome MDT in SMHS. However, MDT are no panacea; tailoring MDTto users’ needs is therefore crucial.

Keywords