Usability of a Healthcare App Among Different User Groups

• Published in: Proceedings of the International Symposium of Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 77 - 81
• Main Authors: Haas, Theresa, Rantanen, Esa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.09.2025
• ISSN: 2327-8595; 2327-8595
• DOI: 10.1177/2327857925141016

With the rise in telehealth implementation in healthcare, it is important that such services are accessible to users of all ages. However, many telehealth programs are unable to accommodate the vast diversity of the human population (Schiaffino, Zhang, Sachs, Migliaccio, & Huh-Yoo, 2021). Research in this area is also scarce. The aim of this study was to understand key usability problems that people from different age groups, younger adults (18-25), middle-aged adults (35-60), and older adults (65+), experience when using telehealth applications. Older adults are among the largest group that struggle with access to healthcare with the increase of technologies used (Wilson, Heinsch, Betts, Booth, & Kay-Lambkin, 2021). As a population with generally less experience with technology, they are especially at risk of not getting the care they need. We sought to understand specific areas where telehealth apps may be lacking usability and preventing access by an important user population.