Exploring How Older Adults Experience semAPP, a 360° Media-Based Tool for Memory Assessment: Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Digital Health

Background:

• Technology integration in healthcare presents challenges in design, development, and implementation, with user experience significantly impacting adoption rates.
• Involving end-users (patients, healthcare professionals) in the design phase is crucial for developing effective technological tools and improving health outcomes.
• Many health applications fail due to a lack of end-user and healthcare professional involvement during development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop semAPP (spatial and episodic memory assessment application), a 360° media-based tool for assessing memory in aging individuals through simulated real-life scenarios.
• To evaluate the usability and user experience of semAPP within an end-user population.

Main Methods:

• Developed semAPP, featuring object recognition and spatial memory tasks within immersive virtual environments.
• Deployed the application on iPads and assessed usability and user experience in 34 older adults (16 healthy, 18 with mild cognitive impairment).
• Utilized qualitative and quantitative measures, including descriptive, parametric, and correlation analyses to compare groups and examine technology acceptance.

Main Results:

• Both healthy older adults and those with mild cognitive impairment found semAPP easy to use and expressed willingness to adopt it.
• Usability is influenced by factors such as presentation, functionality, system performance, user interaction, attitudes, skills, and personality.
• The study demonstrated a positive user experience with the semAPP tool.

Conclusions:

• semAPP is a viable tool for assessing older patients, including those with mild cognitive impairment.
• Designing and evaluating technological tools requires consideration of specific target populations, not just the general user base.
• User-centered design approaches are vital for successful technology implementation in healthcare for aging populations.