Designing and evaluating information and communication technology-based interventions? Be aware of the needs of older people

Across Europe, life expectancy is increasing and, along with this, so is the prevalence of chronic conditions including cardiovascular disease (CVD) which is a major cause of morbidity and reduced quality of life, especially among older people.1 Overall, these changes are generating growing demands for care, which challenge the healthcare systems. The use of information and communication technology (ICT) has been seen as a solution to providing good quality care, while simultaneously making healthcare systems more efficient and sustainable in the long-term.2 Ever more research is being conducted into the design and evaluation of new ICT-based interventions. These ICT-based interventions are meant to be used for providing a broad range of services such as booking medical appointments online, managing e-prescriptions, engaging in online health education and promotion (e.g. for self-care), receiving remote monitoring and checking your medical journal. These changes in healthcare provision involve all medical fields, including cardiology. ICT-based interventions have the potential to support the health and wellbeing of patients with CVD3 by providing tele-monitoring,4 supporting lifestyle changes5 and treating depression.6 Informal carers of older people could also benefit indirectly from the improved situation of the older person for whom they are caring and directly from tailored ICT-based interventions.7 However, the effectiveness, the acceptance and the use of ICT-based interventions by older people can be reduced by some key aspects. Firstly, when designing and developing ICT-based interventions, it is crucial to consider that health-related limitations can hinder the engagement of older people with the intervention.8 Secondly, although the number of older persons using ICTs has been increasing over the last years, some of them are non-users or have little experience with the use of ICTs.9