Interactive, Personalized Patient Decision Aid for COVID-19 Vaccination in Canada: User-Centered Design Approach.

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Informatics
• Patient Decision Aids

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for accessible digital health tools.
• Misinformation and rapidly evolving evidence complicate informed health decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop VaxDA-C19, a bilingual (English/French) web-based patient decision aid for COVID-19 vaccination in Canada.
• To create a tool that enhances vaccine confidence and addresses diverse informational needs through personalized features.

Main Methods:

• Iterative, user-centered design approach involving citizen panels, healthcare professionals, and experts.
• Four cycles of development and refinement with usability testing, including interviews and think-aloud protocols.
• Involvement of 40+ participants (users and experts) across development cycles.

Main Results:

• User feedback informed simplification of quantitative data and technical vaccine descriptions.
• Usability testing led to improved navigation, simplified terminology, and optimized interactive elements.
• Expert reviews refined linguistic consistency, mobile responsiveness, transparency, and scientific accuracy.

Conclusions:

• An iterative process yielded a personalized, bilingual digital decision aid for evidence-informed COVID-19 vaccination choices.
• Future randomized controlled trials will assess VaxDA-C19's impact on vaccination intentions and related outcomes.
• The platform may be adapted for other vaccine decisions, including influenza and measles, and emerging infectious diseases.