Exploring usability characteristics in computer-based digital health technologies for family caregivers of people with chronic progressive conditions: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVE

To examine usability characteristics/attributes and evaluation methods incorporated in the design and/or evaluation of computer-based digital technologies for caregivers of people with chronic progressive conditions.

METHODS

We searched Medline (OVID), PsycINFO (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), and Web of Science Core Collection to identify relevant studies published from 2012 to May 2024. Two reviewers screened studies for eligibility, and extracted and synthesized data.

RESULTS

Across 71 included studies, sample sizes ranged between 5 and 127. Most participants were caregivers of people with dementia ( = 52, 73.2%). There was a mix of caregiving relationships across the 55 studies (77.5%) reporting this variable, with spouses most frequently included ( = 51, 92.7%). Samples were predominantly female (72.1%), with mean ages between 43.0 and 76.7 years old. Most technologies were Website/Internet-based ( = 43, 60.6%). Across the studies, we identified 31 distinct usability characteristics/attributes, with more than half of the studies ( = 45, 63.4%) including at least three characteristics/attributes. However, nearly half of the studies ( = 32, 45.1%) used a single usability evaluation method, predominantly inquiry-based interviews ( = 15, 21.1%).

CONCLUSION

Findings reflect a narrow focus on middle-aged, female, and spousal caregivers, limiting the utility of digital health technologies for more diverse groups of caregivers. In addition to commonly used inquiry-based usability evaluation methods, user-testing, heuristic evaluation, and analytic modelling may offer more adaptive and holistic approaches to address a wider range of digital technologies.