Assessing user experience on AreaAlzheimer platform: A study on usability, accessibility, and usefulness
Desiree Piromalli*, María Aurora Cañadas-Romero, Marta Ivirico-Prats, Marc Suárez-Calvet, Ana Beriain Bañares, Maria Sanchez Valle, Laia Ortiz Castelvi
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AbstractBackground: Dementia is among the fastest-growing global diseases, with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) representing 60–70% of all cases. In Spain, over 900,000 people are currently affected, and this number is expected to double within the next 20 years. This research focuses on Catalonia, where an estimated 90.000 individuals live with AD or related dementias. Care responsibilities largely fall on family members, primarily women—especially daughters or spouses—aged between 45 and 64 years.
Research Objective: This study assesses the usability, accessibility, and perceived usefulness of AreaAlzheimer (AA), a digital platform designed to support Alzheimer’s family caregivers. AA offers resources such as information, emotional support, community engagement, training, and research participation.
Methods: A mixed-methods design was used. Quantitative data were collected via standardised scales: accessibility (Single Ease Question), usability (System Usability Scale), and usefulness (Perceived Usefulness Scale and Behavioural Intention Scale). Qualitative data were gathered through focus groups. Participants were 40 family caregivers of individuals with AD, drawn from the Pasqual Maragall Foundation database.
Results: Accessibility and intention to use received the highest ratings (average score: 4.5/5), while perceived usefulness was rated lower (3.4/5). The platform’s usability scored 74.3/100, suggesting acceptable functionality. Focus group discussions highlighted a need for enhanced visual design and accessibility features to accommodate users with varying levels of digital literacy.
Conclusion: Findings indicate that digital platforms like AA have significant potential to support informal caregivers. However, continuous improvements based on user feedback are essential to ensure broader usability and relevance.Keywords: Alzheimer, technology, digitalisation, informal caregivers, user experience
Desiree Piromalli*, María Aurora Cañadas-Romero, Marta Ivirico-Prats, Marc Suárez-Calvet, Ana Beriain Bañares, Maria Sanchez Valle, Laia Ortiz Castelvi (2025). Assessing user experience on AreaAlzheimer platform: A study on usability, accessibility, and usefulness. Gerontechnology, 24(1), 1-10
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2025.24.1.1195.07