Abstract
BACKGROUND: Online programs targeting lifestyle have the potential to benefit brain health. We aimed to develop such a program for individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). These individuals were reported to be at increased risk for dementia, and report both an intrinsic need for brain health information and motivation to participate in prevention strategies. Co-creation and user-evaluation benefits the adherence to and acceptance of online programs. Previously, we developed a prototype of the online program in co-creation with the users .
OBJECTIVES: We now aimed to evaluate the user-experiences of our online lifestyle program for brain health.
DESIGN: 30-day user test; multi-method.
SETTING: Participants were recruited in a memory clinic and (online) research registries in the Netherlands (Alzheimer Center Amsterdam) and Germany (Center for memory disorders, Cologne).
PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with SCD (N=137, 65±9y, 57% female).
MEASUREMENTS: We assessed user-experiences quantitatively with rating daily advices and usefulness, satisfaction and ease of use questionnaires as well as qualitatively using telephone interviews.
RESULTS: Quantitative data showed that daily advices were rated moderately useful (3.5 ±1.5, range 1-5 points). Participants (n=101, 78%) gave moderate ratings on the programs' usability (3.7±1.3, max 7), ease of learning (3.6±1.9) and satisfaction (4.0±1.5), and marginal ratings on the overall usability (63.7±19.0, max 100). Qualitative data collected during telephone interviews showed that participants highly appreciated the content of the program. They elaborated that lower ratings of the program were mainly due to technical issues that hindered a smooth walk through. Participants reported that the program increased awareness of lifestyle factors related to brain health.
CONCLUSIONS: Overall user-experience of the online lifestyle program was moderate to positive. Qualitative data showed that content was appreciated and that flawless, easy access technique is essential. The heterogeneity in ratings of program content and in program use highlights the need for personalization. These findings support the use of online self-applied lifestyle programs when aiming to reach large groups of motivated at-risk individuals for brain health promotion.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 7 |
| Pages (from-to) | 184-194 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2020 |
Funding
We thank all participants for their contribution to this research project. We thank Roxelane BV. and specifically Rudolf Wolterbeek, Brian Fa Si Oen and Max Hasenaar for their contribution to this project representing the technical party within the collaboration. We thank Mark Dubbelman for data visualization. We thank the founders of HelloBrain.eu (Trinity College Dublin, supported by European Union?s Seventh Framework Program for research, grant no. 304867) for the fruitful collaboration. The website www.hellobrain.eu shares easy-to-understand information and animations about the brain, brain health and brain research. The freely available interactive app, Hello Brain Health, aims to support users to live a brain healthy life by giving daily suggestions called ?brain buffs?. The app is available on the project website, the App Store and Google Play. The Alzheimer Center Amsterdam is supported by Alzheimer Nederland and Stichting VUmc fonds. Research of the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam is part of the neurodegeneration research program of Neuroscience Amsterdam. Wiesje van der Flier holds the Pasman chair. Hersenonderzoek.nl is funded by ZonMw-Memorabel (project no 73305095003), a project in the context of the Dutch Deltaplan Dementie, the Alzheimer?s Society in the Netherlands and the Brain Foundation Netherlands. The project is supported through the following funding organizations under the aegis of JPND ( www.jpnd.eu ; JPND_PS_FP-689-019): Germany, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF grant number: 01ED1508), the Netherlands, ZonMw grant no. 733051043. It was additionally supported by a research grant from Stichting Equilibrio. W.M. van der Flier is recipient of a grant by Gieskes-Strijbis fonds. S. Sikkes is recipient of a ZonMw Off Road grant (grant no. 451001010). Acknowledgements We thank all participants for their contribution to this research project. We thank Roxelane BV. and specifically Rudolf Wolterbeek, Brian Fa Si Oen and Max Hasenaar for their contribution to this project representing the technical party within the collaboration. We thank Mark Dubbelman for data visualization. We thank the founders of HelloBrain.eu (Trinity College Dublin, supported by European Union’s Seventh Framework Program for research, grant no. 304867) for the fruitful collaboration. The website www.hellobrain.eu shares easy-to-understand information and animations about the brain, brain health and brain research. The freely available interactive app, Hello Brain Health, aims to support users to live a brain healthy life by giving daily suggestions called ‘brain buffs’. The app is available on the project website, the App Store and Google Play. The Alzheimer Center Amsterdam is supported by Alzheimer Nederland and Stichting VUmc fonds. Research of the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam is part of the neurodegeneration research program of Neuroscience Amsterdam. Wiesje van der Flier holds the Pasman chair. Hersenonderzoek.nl is funded by ZonMw-Memorabel (project no 73305095003), a project in the context of the Dutch Deltaplan Dementie, the Alzheimer’s Society in the Netherlands and the Brain Foundation Netherlands.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Brain Foundation Netherlands | |
| Stichting Equilibrio | 451001010 |
| Seventh Framework Programme | 304867, 73305095003 |
| Alzheimer's Society | |
| Trinity College Dublin | |
| ZonMw | 733051043 |
| Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung | 01ED1508 |
Keywords
- dementia
- eHealth
- Lifestyle
- prevention
- subjective cognitive decline