TY - JOUR
T1 - Development of a Web-Based Intervention to Support Primary Health Care Professionals in Digital Health Measurement
T2 - User-Centered Participatory Approach
AU - Meijers, Kristel
AU - Bols, Esther
AU - Beekman, Emmylou
AU - Slangen, Rachel
AU - van de Hoef, Peter Alexander
AU - Ummels, Darcy
AU - Crutzen, Rik
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors sincerely thank all participating primary health care professionals from ICL Fysio, Ergotherapiepraktijk Martens, Logopedica, Huisartsenpraktijk Reinoud, ParaMedisch Centrum Zuid, Ergotherapie Midden-Limburg, BLIJ Logopedie, Huisartsenpraktijk Herkenbosch, Fysio Annadal, Mijn Ergo, Logopedie SamenSpraak, communication specialists Veronique Tumini and Hello Sunshine, and colleagues Laura Hochstenbach, Gerrie Bours, Corelien Kloek, Albine Moser, Ren\u00E9e Verwey, and Marissa Gerards. The authors are also grateful to the advisory board members and external experts: Erik van Rossum, Cindy Veenhof, Marike Hettinga, Trudy van der Weijden, Sander Holterman, Loek van der Heide, Joris van der Steen and Anouk Claessens from Koninklijk Nederlands Genootschap voor Fysiotherapie, Lucelle van de Ven from Ergotherapie Nederland, Cindy Koolhaas and Yvonne Brookman from Nederlandse Vereniging voor Logopedie en Foniatrie, and Talisha de Rouw and Jolanda Schaliboom from Nederlandse Vereniging van Praktijkondersteuners en Praktijkverpleegkundigen. This study was funded by the Brightlands innovation program Limburg Meet (DOE MEE project [Duurzaam implementeren van doelgericht meten met eHealth in de eerstelijns zorgpraktijk; Dutch for \u201CSustainable implementation of targeted measurement with eHealth in primary care practice\u201D]). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, or writing of this manuscript. The generative AI tool ChatGPT [87] was used only for language editing.
Publisher Copyright:
©Kristel Meijers, Esther Bols, Emmylou Beekman, Rachel Slangen, Peter Alexander van de Hoef, Darcy Ummels, Rik Crutzen.
PY - 2025/1/1
Y1 - 2025/1/1
N2 - Background: Digital health measurement offers opportunities to address several primary health care challenges, but health care professionals encounter significant implementation barriers. Therefore, resources need to be developed to facilitate the integration of digital health measurement into daily practice. Objective: We aim to identify the most appropriate format and content for an intervention to support primary health care professionals in adopting digital health measurement. In addition, we describe and reflect on the development process. Methods: We used a participatory action research approach as well as user-centered design principles. A total of 19 primary health care professionals from 4 disciplines—physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and general practitioner practice assistance—participated in intervention development as end users. External experts were consulted to broaden perspectives. Data were collected across 3 iterative stages (concept, design, and testing and trials) between January 2022 and December 2023 during cocreative meetings, individual interviews, focus group discussions, usability testing, and prototype use in daily practice. Data were analyzed using content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results: A web-based, stepwise intervention combining theoretical information, practical aids, examples, and experiences proved most suitable. Key features were concise content, intuitive and attractive graphic design, and flexible navigation and functionalities. Iterative improvements led to an increase in usability ratings from “okay” to “good to excellent.” Conclusions: Different health care disciplines benefit from similar support strategies; yet, this requires a careful balancing of intervention design and content. Combining participatory action research and user-centered design principles was useful to tailor the intervention to end users’ daily routines. The described development process offers a replicable framework for creating support strategies for digital health measurement in various health care settings.
AB - Background: Digital health measurement offers opportunities to address several primary health care challenges, but health care professionals encounter significant implementation barriers. Therefore, resources need to be developed to facilitate the integration of digital health measurement into daily practice. Objective: We aim to identify the most appropriate format and content for an intervention to support primary health care professionals in adopting digital health measurement. In addition, we describe and reflect on the development process. Methods: We used a participatory action research approach as well as user-centered design principles. A total of 19 primary health care professionals from 4 disciplines—physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and general practitioner practice assistance—participated in intervention development as end users. External experts were consulted to broaden perspectives. Data were collected across 3 iterative stages (concept, design, and testing and trials) between January 2022 and December 2023 during cocreative meetings, individual interviews, focus group discussions, usability testing, and prototype use in daily practice. Data were analyzed using content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results: A web-based, stepwise intervention combining theoretical information, practical aids, examples, and experiences proved most suitable. Key features were concise content, intuitive and attractive graphic design, and flexible navigation and functionalities. Iterative improvements led to an increase in usability ratings from “okay” to “good to excellent.” Conclusions: Different health care disciplines benefit from similar support strategies; yet, this requires a careful balancing of intervention design and content. Combining participatory action research and user-centered design principles was useful to tailor the intervention to end users’ daily routines. The described development process offers a replicable framework for creating support strategies for digital health measurement in various health care settings.
KW - cocreation
KW - digital health
KW - eHealth
KW - general practitioners
KW - health measurement
KW - implementation
KW - language therapy
KW - occupational therapy
KW - participatory action research
KW - physical therapy
KW - primary health care
KW - support
KW - telemedicine
KW - telemonitoring
KW - user-centered design
U2 - 10.2196/72331
DO - 10.2196/72331
M3 - Article
SN - 2561-326X
VL - 9
JO - JMIR Formative Research
JF - JMIR Formative Research
M1 - e72331
ER -