User experience and acceptance of a device assisting persons with dementia in daily life: a multicenter field study.

BACKGROUND: Assistive technologies have the potential to facilitate everyday life of people with dementia and their families. Close collaboration with affected people and interdisciplinary research are essential to understand and address the needs of prospective users. In this study, we present the results of the evaluation of such an assistive system prototype. AIMS: Challenges from the patient and caregiver side, technical and design problems and acceptance and usability with regard to our special target group were evaluated. METHODS: MEMENTO, a system of two e-ink tablets and a smartwatch, was tested in the domestic environment of dementia patients. Thirty participants from Italy, Spain and Austria took part in a 3-month field trial and compared the MEMENTO system to traditional strategies in everyday life. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected and frequency of use of the system was monitored. RESULTS: There were no significant changes in quantitative measurements, such as activities of daily living and caregiver burden over the duration of the 3-month field trial. More frequent usage was significantly correlated with positive attitude towards technology (r = 0.723, p < 0.05), but not with age. The design of the system was positively emphasized, reducing fear of the technology on the one hand and stigmatization on the other. CONCLUSION: We show that a positive attitude towards technology is the essential variable for successful implementation of such systems, regardless of age. Participants showed great interest in digital solutions and agreed that technological systems will help in maintaining independency of persons with cognitive dysfunction in the future.

Usability testing of the first prototype of the Memento system: a technological device to promote an independent living in people with dementia.

PURPOSE: Assistive technologies have the potential for supporting people with memory complaints in their daily life. User-centered interaction design research helps developers to create systems that are suitable for users. The aim of this work is to describe the methodology and the results of the usability test for the first Memento prototype involving users. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In each country, 5 subjects with different levels of cognitive reserve and technical proficiency were enrolled in Italy, Austria and Spain, respectively (15 subjects; 6 M; 9 F, age 72.8 ± 10.8 years, MMSE score 25.6 ± 1.6). Observation methods, performance metrics and the System Usability Scale were used to collect data. RESULTS: The results are presented in terms of design, technical problems, target-group-related challenges and usability perception from the participant perspective. Suggestions for improvement were pointed out by the users. Considering the usability scores interpretation, the first prototype was classified as "OK" and "Good" by users. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the Lab Trials provide important information on usability and the users' needs in order to improve the Memento prototype and to create a final system to be evaluated during the Field Trials phase of the project.Implication for rehabilitationThe MEMENTO project mission is to improve the quality of life of people in the early and middle stages of dementia, by supporting the management of daily activities that are usually affected by the loss of memory and cognition. The Lab Trial phase is essential to have feedback on the usability of the Memento prototype to allow a better understanding of users' needs and expectations.

Evaluating a Smart Healthcare System Design Through Participatory Approach.

Advances in computer communication technology have enabled the rapid growth of e-health services for delivering healthcare, such as facilitating online consent and data sharing between patients and health professionals. Developing a patient-centric healthcare system is challenging because by necessity, it should be secure, reliable, and resilient to cyber threats, whilst remaining user-friendly. Key to any development aiming for a refined proof-of-concept (PoC) system is the pursuit of comprehensive public system testing and evaluation. This paper focuses on the methodology and results obtained from the participatory approach adopted by the EU H2020 project Serums to evaluate and demonstrate the effectiveness of a smart healthcare system based on emergent technologies like blockchain, data lake, and multi-factor authentication. We discuss the challenges faced by remote PoC system evaluations with end-users as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.