Development of a Tablet-Based Outpatient Care Application for People With Dementia: Interview and Workshop Study

Abstract

Background: Dementia management presents a significant challenge for individuals affected by dementia, as well as their families, caregivers, and health care providers. Digital applications may support those living with dementia; however only a few dementia-friendly applications exist. Objective: This paper emphasizes the necessity of considering multiple perspectives to ensure the high-quality development of supportive health care applications. The findings underscore the importance of incorporating input from stakeholders and the needs of affected families into application development. Method: A qualitative approach was chosen, consisting of three interviews and an expert workshop. The interviews and the workshop were recorded and transcribed, and qualitative content analysis was carried out according to the methodology described by Kuckartz with the support of MAXQDA. Results: During the development phases of the application, team meetings and discussions took place. We found that general practitioners and family caregivers play pivotal roles in the treatment and care of people with dementia, often expressing specific preferences and suggestions regarding supportive and assistive technologies. Moreover, the successful development of a useful tablet application requires robust scientific and multidisciplinary discussions and teamwork within the health care community. Conclusion: This paper underscores the necessity of including multiple scientific, clinical, and technical perspectives to ensure the high-quality development of supportive health care applications. Furthermore, adopting a spiral development approach inclusive of feedback loops is imperative for iterative refinement and enhancement of the application.