Webinar Explores Usability and Engagement in Digital Healthcare Tools

https://digital.ahrq.gov/national-webinars Through AHRQ’s Digital Healthcare Research grants, researchers are developing and testing tools that equip people to manage their health more effectively. At the AHRQ National Webinar on July 17—attended by more than 800 people—two grantees presented the details of their ongoing studies designed to promote behavior change through patient-centered design and real-world usability. May May Leung, Ph.D., discussed “Game On!”—a digital comic tool designed to combat childhood obesity through interactive nutrition education and storytelling. In usability testing, her team achieved strong engagement by offering flexible data collection and ample tech support. “We assign a specific researcher to each child-parent dyad so that they continue to build rapport and connection throughout the study,” she explained. David Dorr, M.D., M.S., shared his team’s work on a clinical decision support tool integrated with the electronic health record and patient portal. This tool is designed to encourage patients with hypertension to consistently monitor their blood pressure without causing undue stress. “It’s important to have a tool that is understandable to the patient and doesn’t cause them to worry about their blood pressure,” Dr. Dorr said. Access the Division of Digital Healthcare Research’s National Webinars page for the webinar recording and for more details on upcoming events and on-demand recordings of past webinars. You can also explore other digital healthcare research projects on the division’s AHRQ-Funded Projects page. https://digital.ahrq.gov/ahrq-funded-projects/search