We present a protocol for a prospective cross-sectional study to assess the usability and acceptability of the Digital Care Path for Living Kidney Donor Candidates, part of Finland’s Health Village portal. The study aims to gather feedback from living kidney donor candidates regarding the system’s functionality, ease of use, and potential to enhance the donation process. The protocol outlines methods for evaluating user experience and system performance through surveys and usability scales.
What was the context of our study?
Living kidney donation is a critical part of addressing the growing demand for organ transplants. Ensuring that potential donors have access to clear, standardized, and user-friendly information is essential to support informed decision-making. The Digital Care Path, an eHealth tool, was developed to meet these needs by providing structured educational resources, secure communication with healthcare teams, and access to teleconsultation services.
What did we propose to do?
The study involves 122 living kidney donor candidates who will use the Digital Care Path as part of their evaluation and preparation process. Participants will complete the System Usability Scale (SUS) to measure ease of use and engage in surveys and open-ended feedback sessions to capture their experiences. The protocol also includes data analysis plans to identify patterns in user activity, assess adherence to the platform, and evaluate its impact on the donation journey.
What do we aim to learn?
The study aims to understand how the Digital Care Path supports donor candidates in navigating the complex donation process. Specifically, it will assess the system’s usability, identify barriers to adoption, and evaluate how effectively it delivers critical information. The findings will provide insights into improving eHealth tools for living kidney donation and other healthcare applications.
Why is this important?
As digital health tools become integral to modern healthcare, understanding their usability and acceptability is crucial for ensuring they meet the needs of diverse user populations. This protocol outlines a robust approach to evaluating such a tool, emphasizing the importance of user-centered design and iterative feedback in improving eHealth interventions. Insights from this study will inform the development of scalable solutions to enhance living kidney donation experiences.
Reference
Ortiz F, Giunti G. Usability assessment of an interactive health technology for kidney living donors: protocol for a prospective cross-sectional survey. BMJ Open. 2022;12:e051166. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051166.