Abstract
InformCare is a European Web platform that supports informal caregivers of older people by providing access to online information and professional and peer support. The aim of this study was to assess the usage and usability of a psychosocial Web-based program carried out in three European countries (Italy, Sweden, and Germany). A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was adopted, comprising baseline and postintervention assessments, as well as combined thematic content analysis of results and focus group findings. A convenience sample of 118 caregivers was enrolled, of whom 94 used the services offered by the program at least once. The subsamples in the three countries used the platform in different ways, with a predominance of passive strategies (eg, seeking information and reading other people's comments) for Italian caregivers, and more active usage by Swedish and German caregivers. The usability assessment showed that the platform was perceived well by Italian and German caregivers, whereas technical problems affected the Swedish sample's experiences. Focus group data highlighted user satisfaction with the online support and reliability of the environment. Recommendations for practitioners are to ensure digital training for caregivers who have lower confidence in use of the Internet, to involve different healthcare professionals in the provision of professional support, and to adequately manage online community building.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 232-241 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | CIN - Computers Informatics Nursing |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2018 |
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Keywords
- Aged
- Caregivers/psychology
- Female
- Focus Groups
- Frail Elderly
- Germany
- Humans
- Information Seeking Behavior
- Internet
- Italy
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Social Support
- Sweden
- User-Computer Interface
Cite this
Usage and Usability of a Web-based Program for Family Caregivers of Older People in Three European Countries : A Mixed-Methods Evaluation. / Barbabella, Francesco; Poli, Arianna; Hanson, Elizabeth; Andréasson, Frida; Salzmann, Benjamin; Döhner, Hanneli; Papa, Roberta; Efthymiou, Areti; Valenza, Silvia; Pelliccioni, Giuseppe; Lamura, Giovanni.
In: CIN - Computers Informatics Nursing, Vol. 36, No. 5, 05.2018, p. 232-241.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Usage and Usability of a Web-based Program for Family Caregivers of Older People in Three European Countries
T2 - A Mixed-Methods Evaluation
AU - Barbabella, Francesco
AU - Poli, Arianna
AU - Hanson, Elizabeth
AU - Andréasson, Frida
AU - Salzmann, Benjamin
AU - Döhner, Hanneli
AU - Papa, Roberta
AU - Efthymiou, Areti
AU - Valenza, Silvia
AU - Pelliccioni, Giuseppe
AU - Lamura, Giovanni
PY - 2018/5
Y1 - 2018/5
N2 - InformCare is a European Web platform that supports informal caregivers of older people by providing access to online information and professional and peer support. The aim of this study was to assess the usage and usability of a psychosocial Web-based program carried out in three European countries (Italy, Sweden, and Germany). A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was adopted, comprising baseline and postintervention assessments, as well as combined thematic content analysis of results and focus group findings. A convenience sample of 118 caregivers was enrolled, of whom 94 used the services offered by the program at least once. The subsamples in the three countries used the platform in different ways, with a predominance of passive strategies (eg, seeking information and reading other people's comments) for Italian caregivers, and more active usage by Swedish and German caregivers. The usability assessment showed that the platform was perceived well by Italian and German caregivers, whereas technical problems affected the Swedish sample's experiences. Focus group data highlighted user satisfaction with the online support and reliability of the environment. Recommendations for practitioners are to ensure digital training for caregivers who have lower confidence in use of the Internet, to involve different healthcare professionals in the provision of professional support, and to adequately manage online community building.
AB - InformCare is a European Web platform that supports informal caregivers of older people by providing access to online information and professional and peer support. The aim of this study was to assess the usage and usability of a psychosocial Web-based program carried out in three European countries (Italy, Sweden, and Germany). A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was adopted, comprising baseline and postintervention assessments, as well as combined thematic content analysis of results and focus group findings. A convenience sample of 118 caregivers was enrolled, of whom 94 used the services offered by the program at least once. The subsamples in the three countries used the platform in different ways, with a predominance of passive strategies (eg, seeking information and reading other people's comments) for Italian caregivers, and more active usage by Swedish and German caregivers. The usability assessment showed that the platform was perceived well by Italian and German caregivers, whereas technical problems affected the Swedish sample's experiences. Focus group data highlighted user satisfaction with the online support and reliability of the environment. Recommendations for practitioners are to ensure digital training for caregivers who have lower confidence in use of the Internet, to involve different healthcare professionals in the provision of professional support, and to adequately manage online community building.
KW - Aged
KW - Caregivers/psychology
KW - Female
KW - Focus Groups
KW - Frail Elderly
KW - Germany
KW - Humans
KW - Information Seeking Behavior
KW - Internet
KW - Italy
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Social Support
KW - Sweden
KW - User-Computer Interface
U2 - 10.1097/CIN.0000000000000422
DO - 10.1097/CIN.0000000000000422
M3 - Article
C2 - 29505433
VL - 36
SP - 232
EP - 241
JO - CIN - Computers Informatics Nursing
JF - CIN - Computers Informatics Nursing
SN - 1538-2931
IS - 5
ER -