Mind the Gap: Design Thinking and Human Centered Design for eHealth Applications - Insights from Vulnerable...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Health Equity

Background:

• Stakeholder engagement methods, including Human-Centered Design (HCD) and Design Thinking (DT), are increasingly used in eHealth development.
• Vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with impairments, face unique wellness barriers.
• Ensuring equitable access to digital health solutions for all demographics is a growing concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the scope, definitions, motivations, and trends in eHealth application development using stakeholder engagement methods.
• To specifically analyze eHealth applications designed for vulnerable populations.
• To identify gaps and opportunities in current eHealth development practices.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review of peer-reviewed studies was conducted.
• The review focused on articles published over the past decade.
• 131 articles met the eligibility criteria for inclusion.

Main Results:

• The analysis revealed a significant lack of diversity in eHealth application development.
• Most eHealth tools developed over the last decade have primarily targeted adult users.
• There is a notable gap in applications designed to meet the specific needs of vulnerable populations.

Conclusions:

• Current eHealth development trends show a bias towards adult users, underserving vulnerable groups.
• There is an urgent need to prioritize the development of eHealth applications tailored to the needs of children, the elderly, and individuals with impairments.
• Inclusive design practices are crucial to ensure that digital health innovations benefit all segments of society and promote health equity.