Mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) are valuable tools for managing healthy lifestyles and preventing disease among older adults. However, their adoption remains relatively low, particularly in developing countries, such as China. This study explores the potential of leveraging design to enhance mHealth app adoption among older Chinese adults during the design ideation phase.
A comprehensive bibliometric analysis in the field of Design for Digital Inclusion (DfDI) highlighted the need to support designers in promoting mHealth app adoption through design, particularly in developing countries. To leverage this potential, the research proposed the Senior mHealth Adoption Model 1.0, integrating the Precaution Adoption Process Model (PAPM) with design-related factors influencing mHealth adoption among older adults.
To develop the model, the initial preparation involved interviews with inclusive digital designers, revealing their needs for specific support, example stimuli and information integration during the design ideation phase in mHealth adoption design. Building on these findings, an interview study explored the factors influencing the adoption of mHealth apps among older Chinese adults, leading to the improvement of the model into the Senior mHealth Adoption Model 2.0. Further development and improvement were achieved through two studies with student designers who applied these models to design tasks. In Design Study 1, pre- and post-questionnaires (including the Creativity Self Efficacy scales, self-report scales and open-ended questions), design idea concepts and learning logs were used to develop the Senior mHealth Adoption Model 3.0. This model provided specific design strategies and outputs to support the design ideation. Design Study 2 replicated these methods, confirming the effectiveness of Model 3.0. Experienced mHealth designers subsequently evaluated Model 3.0, confirming its effectiveness and applicability and discussing the opportunities and potential challenges in the implementation of the model in real-world design scenarios.
The findings reveal the potential of creative design in fostering mHealth apps among older Chinese adults. The research demonstrates the effectiveness of employing the multi-stage health behaviour change model (PAPM) in facilitating the design of mHealth app adoption, emphasising the Senior mHealth Adoption Model 3.0’s usefulness in providing design stimuli, specificality and information integration, as well as boosting creative self-efficacy and enhancing perceived ease of use. In addition, the project offers a practical ideation model (Senior mHealth Adoption Model 3.0) to support designers in creating design solutions to promote mHealth adoption tailored to the needs of older adults. By integrating the adoption process into design considerations, designers are encouraged to focus not only on app design but also on the adoption stages, thereby enhancing awareness and fostering decision making of adoption of this process within design practice. Future research should focus on testing the effectiveness of the design solution concepts with older adults and further support design ideation in the professional environment to enhance ideation in mHealth app adoption.
