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. 2021 Jan 12;10(1):e22463.
doi: 10.2196/22463.

Investigating Users' and Other Stakeholders' Needs in the Development of a Personalized Integrated Care Platform (PROCare4Life) for Older People with Dementia or Parkinson Disease: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study

Mona Ahmed #  1 , Mayca Marín #  2 , Raquel Bouça-Machado #  3 , Daniella How  1 , Elda Judica  4 , Peppino Tropea  4 , Ellen Bentlage  1 , Michael Brach  1
Affiliations

Investigating Users' and Other Stakeholders' Needs in the Development of a Personalized Integrated Care Platform (PROCare4Life) for Older People with Dementia or Parkinson Disease: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study

Mona Ahmed et al. JMIR Res Protoc. .

Abstract

Background: Dementias-including Alzheimer disease-and Parkinson disease profoundly impact the quality of life of older population members and their families. PROCare4Life (Personalized Integrated Care Promoting Quality of Life for Older Adults) is a European project that recognizes the benefit of technology-based integrated care models in improving the care coordination and the quality of life of these target groups. This project proposes an integrated, scalable, and interactive care platform targeting older people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, their caregivers, and socio-health professionals. PROCare4Life adopts a user-centered design approach from the early stage and throughout platform development and implementation, during which the platform is designed and adapted to the needs and requirements of all the involved users.

Objective: This paper presents the study protocol for investigating users' needs and requirements regarding the design of the proposed PROCare4Life platform.

Methods: A mixed qualitative and quantitative study design is utilized, including online surveys, interviews, and workshops. The study aimed to recruit approximately 200 participants, including patients diagnosed with dementia or Parkinson disease, caregivers, socio-health professionals, and other stakeholders, from five different European countries: Germany, Italy, Portugal, Romania, and Spain.

Results: The study took place between April and September 2020. Recruitment is now closed, and all the data have been collected and analyzed in order to be used in shaping the large-scale pilot phase of the PROCare4Life project. Results of the study are expected to be published in spring 2021.

Conclusions: This paper charts the protocol for a user-centered design approach at the early stage of the PROCare4Life project in order to shape and influence an integrated health platform suitable for its intended target group and purpose.

International registered report identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/22463.

Keywords: dementia; health care technologies; integrated care; neurodegenerative diseases; older adults; user-centered design.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Technology of the PROCare4Life platform (source: PROCare4Life grant agreement, funded by The European Commission). PROCare4Life: Personalized Integrated Care Promoting Quality of Life for Older People.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mixed methods study design. The study started by conducting surveys and interviews; relevant results were identified and discussed in the workshops.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Example images of PROCare4Life tools and sensors viewed in interviews and workshops. PROCare4Life: Personalized Integrated Care Promoting Quality of Life for Older Adults.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The process of investigating the users' needs and requirements. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed using thematic and descriptive analysis methods. The identified results will be used to shape the pilot phases of the PROCare4Life project. PROCare4Life: Personalized Integrated Care Promoting Quality of Life for Older Adults.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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