HealthCoach4Me Evaluation and Recommendations Esther Sheppard IDIA612

Home page:“Take Charge of Your Health” Activates users to take action Patient Activation Measure

Goal: Visual simplification; Visual Simplification 1. Three large boxes at bottom are more distinguishable then elements above. 1 1

Site has vibrant color; implies energy, success, and fun with lots of information. Users can identify with portraits. Homepage is visually too busy; hard to read/scan Healthcoach4Me.com Home page 1.Too much motion 2. Not enough negative (empty/quiet) space

By simplifying visual space user can find and read primary information easily Visual Simplification

Visual simplification Visual Simplification Registration buttons have been consolidated to one prominent location. In interior pages it is a rectilinear button in similar location. 2.Animated squares were removed and replaced with two links to videos. “Why Register” was removed. 3.More negative space as well as appropriate space between lines of text makes reading and scanning easier to communicate important information

Healthcoach4Me.com Includes audience of older adults –Stress Management –COPD –Heart Disease –Diabetes –Medicine Audience

Goal: Navigation which is usable for all targeted age groups; Use proportional size to distance of targets Navigation The purple space between the main navigation and secondary navigation is too wide and isn’t utilized effectively. 2.The distance between links is too far and the targets are too small. 3.Result: Older adults will have a more difficult time using the site.

Navigation is usable for all targeted age groups; Proportional size to distance of targets Navigation 1.Main navigation is grouped closely and larger in scale. Health Library opens to reveal Health Management and Medical Conditions categories. 2.My Coaching Plan slides down to accommodate two categories

Goal: Enable users to skip repetitive navigation links Navigation

The previous animated program list opens to the same list which requires an added step to register or take a tour. Navigation

Process Flows: Animated Programs on left. Proposal on right. Navigation Home Health Library Health Management Medicine Home View all Programs Registration form Dashboard Health Library Medicine

The previous animated program list which constitutes the Health Library, has been reorganized into two categories which open to reveal linked text. Navigation 1. Icons have been removed. 2. Alternative, static, healthful happy person image Result: Navigation is in one place; links go directly to content

Goal: Error Prevention Error Prevention 1. Unnecessary space contributes to need to scroll (2). 3. Text is too small and not spaced well. Result: Chunking would enable older users to register more easily

Provide clear feedback on actions; fix bug Problem with login is already registered but doesn’t match records. 2. Password is correct

Registration Process Error Prevention Login and Register take user to one point of entry.

Login or register entry point Error Prevention User has single page to complete login process or initiate registration.

Text block is chunked to eliminate scrolling Error Prevention Separation of text block from form enables quick scanning.

Goal: Consistency and Anticipation Error Prevention Registration steps let user know where they are in process 2.Input is in consistent location

Consistency of location of input Error Prevention Next Step in same location.

“Start my Coaching Plan” finalizes process with “Submit” Error Prevention

“Explore” programs are redundant with health library but don’t have a clear purpose. Health Tools

Alternative proposal on home page: “Try a Health Tool” Health Tools

Health Tools: Three health tools for users to sample directly. Health Tools

Process Flows: Animated Programs on left. “Try a Health Tool” on right. Health Tools Home Try a Health Tool Relaxation Activity Home View all Programs Registration form Dashboard Health Library COPD Result: Direct Access to tool Less Frustration Experiential information delivered Provides broader understanding of resources on site Interactive

Recommendations: Consider older users as guide for interface and interaction design Simplify visual space Simplify and reorganize navigation; utilize Fitts’ Law Minimize vertical scrolling Use familiar language Organize registration for one point of entry; simplified visual field, consistency and anticipation Reconsider goal of animated program list; use minimal selection to inform potential members of available tools with direct action and broaden their understanding of what the site offers. Additional recommendation: Consider content inventory of all PDF’s and reorganize to inform categorizations and access.

References Athavale, A., V., (2010) Usability evaluation of two websites providing information on Diabetes. Journal of Health Informatics in Developing Countries. Vol.4 No.2.P46. Retrieved June 1, 2011 from Chisnell,D, E., Redish, J, C., Lee, A. (2006) New heuristics for understanding older adults as web users. Retrieved May 28,2011 from De Jong, M., Van Der Geest, T., (2000) Characterizing web heuristics. TechnicalCommunication 47 pp Retrieved May 28, 2011 from Hibbard, J. (2007) The elusive health care consumer: What will it take to activate patients? Retrieved May 28, 2011 from Koivunen, M-R., McCathieNevile, C. (2009) Accesible graphics and multimedia on the web. Retreived on May 31, 2011 from Nielsen, J. Ten usability heuristics. Retrieved on May 28, Heuristics

References Paddison. C., Englefield, P., (2004) Applying heuristics to accessibility inspections. Interacting with Computers 16, pp. 507–521. Retrieved May 28,2011 from: Randeree, E. and Rao, H.R. (2004) ‘E-health and assurance: curing hospital websites’, Int. J. Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp.33–46. Research-based web design & usability guidelines. Retrieved June 1, 2011 from Section 508 standards guide Retrieved May 28, 2011 from Tognazzini, B. First principles of interaction design Retrieved May 29, 2011 from Heuristics