Optimising app interface design for an under-served workforce – How co-designing with home careworkers has shaped a resource to support end-of-life care.

Abstract

Background: By 2023 more than 275,600 Australians will be supported by home careworkers (HCW) allowing them die in their home. There is, however, a wide range of abilities, knowledge, backgrounds, and experiences among casualised and fragmented home care workforce. Only a third of health careworkers have received formal training in palliative care.

Aims: To collaborate with HCW to create a useable and relevant app for supporting their end-of-life care practice contextualised to their needs, requirements, and abilities.

Methods: A comprehensive co-design process applying user-centred design approach was conducted involving HCW and other home care sector representatives. The design approach included co-design interviews to scope needs of HCW and to identify content/resources. Using card sorting, content concepts were mapped to form an app information. Throughout the development process, evaluations were conducted to assess usability of the app including wireframes and prototypes.

Results: Using co-design interviews with HCW, we developed rich content for an app structured within an evidence-based framework to support end-of-life care. Information architecture structured from card sorting data supported end-user navigation, functionality, language, and information flow. Testing usability and user experience identified errors within the app prototype which were resolved prior to release.

Conclusions: Through a co-design approach, the Home Care app has been adopted by the home care sector as a valuable, usable, and high-quality resource with interaction experiences tailored by HCW to support their end-of-life care practice.