Exploring the General Acceptability and User Experience of a Digital Therapeutic for Cognitive Training in a Singaporean Older Adult Population: Qualitative Study (Preprint)

• DOI: 10.2196/preprints.63568
• Publication Date: 2024-07-23T12:19:14Z
• Authors: Siong Peng Kwek; Qiao Ying Leong; V Vien Lee; Ni Yin Lau; Smrithi Vijayakumar; Wei Ying Ng; Bina Rai; Marlena Natalia R...; Christopher L Asp...; Alexandria Remus; Dean Ho
• Keywords: Preprint

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Singapore’s large aging population poses significant challenges for the healthcare system in managing cognitive decline, underscoring importance of identifying and implementing effective interventions. Cognitive training delivered remotely as a digital therapeutic (DTx) may serve scalable accessible approach to overcoming these challenges. While previous studies indicate potential promising solution understanding attitudes experiences older adults towards using such DTx platforms remains relatively unexplored. </sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> This study aimed characterize general acceptability user experience CURATE.DTx, platform, Singaporean adult population. <title>METHODS</title> Fifteen participants (mean age = 66.1 ± 3.5 years) were recruited 90-minute in-person session, which included short playtest session followed by semi-structured interview understand their overall attitudes, experience, motivation, views intervention. Interviews audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, thematically analyzed. <title>RESULTS</title> Three main themes, respective subthemes, emerged from interviews: comprehension, with subthemes instruction task comprehension; tablet usability, engagement enjoyment, attitude perceived benefits; facilitators adoption, framing aesthetics, motivation recommendations role medical professionals. Our findings revealed that encountered some certain elements CURATE.DTx. Nevertheless, they still highly engaged it, finding challenge be enjoyable. Participants also showed strong awareness expressed keen interest CURATE.DTx this purpose, especially if recommended <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> Given positive level feedback obtained on current can basis future platform iterations strategies should considered during implementation. Future continue an iterative co-design ensure broader applicability effectiveness interventions tailored demographic.