Usability Evaluation of an App to Support the German in-home Care Consultations According to § 37. 3 Sgb XI

Conference: The European Conference on Aging & Gerontology (EGen2022)
Title: Usability Evaluation of an App to Support the German in-home Care Consultations According to § 37. 3 Sgb XI
Stream: Lifespan Health Promotion
Presentation Type: Virtual Presentation
Authors:
Alexander Gabber, University of Cologne, Germany
Sonja Heidenblut, University of Cologne, Germany
Susanne Zank, University of Cologne, Germany

Abstract:

Introduction: In Germany in-home care consultations are mandatory for informal caregivers receiving care allowances. These visits are carried out by nurses and aim to ensure that care recipients are taken care of appropriately and help to stabilize the home care situation. Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the usability of an app that supports in-home care consultations.

Method: A user-centered design approach was used to develop the app. The usability was determined via usability tests of the first prototype with n = 8 care professionals. For this purpose, scenario-based tasks were carried out to identify usability problems, feedback was obtained and questionnaires were completed to measure usability and user experience (UE). In order to gain further insights, a focus group was held with n = 4 nurses. The tests were analyzed both qualitatively using thematic analysis and quantitatively using SPSS. The focus group was analyzed qualitatively using thematic analysis.

Results: The quantitative results indicate a good usability as well as a high UE. As part of the qualitative results, the following aspects of the app, among others, were described as particularly useful: The digitalization and standardization of the documentation and the integration of a caregiver burden instrument. Usability problems identified included the need to reduce the complexity of entering medication and diagnoses and the need to adapt the items of the integrated assessment.

Conclusion: Usability tests and focus groups have proven to be a useful method for evaluating an app supporting in-home care consultations.