Patients and professionals in collaborative testing of a web-based tool for integrated care: an evaluation study

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Digital Health

Background:

• Norway established a legal right to individual care plans in 2001 for patients with long-term, complex needs.
• These plans aim to enhance efficiency, quality, and patient involvement in health and social services.
• Responsible groups typically manage the care planning process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test a web-based application for individual care planning.
• To evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the application in real-life settings.
• To identify factors influencing the adoption and use of digital tools in care planning.

Main Methods:

• A web-based application was iteratively developed and tested over three years.
• Data collection involved questionnaires, interviews, project documentation, and field notes.
• Testing was conducted with groups comprising both patients and healthcare professionals.

Main Results:

• Iterative testing significantly improved the application's usability.
• Participants reported increased confidence in online access, planning, and documentation.
• Real-life testing revealed interdependencies between technical and organizational aspects.
• Some participants and groups expressed discomfort with the application, despite improvements.

Conclusions:

• The web-based application demonstrated potential for enhancing individual care planning processes.
• Usability and user confidence were improved through iterative development and real-world testing.
• Barriers to participation and adoption require further investigation to ensure equitable access and benefit.