Affiliations: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan | Ovens and King Community Health Services, Wangaratta, Australia | Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Note: [] Corresponding author: Prof. I-Jen Chiang, Graduate Institute of Biomedical
Informatics, Taipei Medical University, 250, Wuxing Street, Taipei 11031, Taiwan. Tel.: +886 2 27361661 Ext.
3343; Fax: +886 2 27392914; E-mail: ijchiang@ntu.edu.tw/d110099005@tmu.edu.tw
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The prevalence of chronic diseases and disabilities are
higher in older adults, which is one of the key factors of rising health care
costs. Health care stakeholders wish older adults to take more control of their
health to delay the onset of age-related disabilities and chronic diseases.
Engaging older adults in their health care decision making would cut down
health care costs and prepare a health care system to be more sustainable. OBJECTIVE: We used the Human-Centered Design approach to propose a prototype
that more effectively engages older adults in their health care
decision-making. METHODS: Four participants from four different
countries – Taiwan, USA, Austria, and Germany; and two facilitators from the
USA participated in this study. The participants interviewed a total of four
subjects in their respective countries. This study used the Human-Centered
Design approach, which embraced three main phases – observation,
identification, and ideation. Each phase involved brainstorming, voting, and
consensus among participants. RESULTS: This study derived 14 insights, 20
categories, 4 themes, a conceptual framework, some potential solutions, and a prototype. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that older adults could be
engaged in their health care decision-making by offering them health care
products and services that were user-friendly and technology enabled. A
'gradual change management plan' could assist older adults to adopt
technologies more effectively. The health care products and services should be
centered on the needs of older adults. Moreover, the possibilities of older
adults maintaining control over their own health may rely on proper timing, a
personal approach, right products, and services.
Keywords: Aging, product design, services, technology, health care cost
