E- Health System for Coagulation Function Management by Elderly People

Abstract

E- Health is a developing area of major social, medical and economic importance especially for the elderly population and citizens of remote areas. Our objectives were to identify visualization methods for a patient-oriented system of collection, storage, and retrieval of coagulation function data, The research group included 25 elderly (72.2±5.5 years) and 25 young participants (30.4±4.9 years).The participants completed tasks based on different visualization models for data entry and follow-up of clinical information, in three experimental websites equipped with hidden tracking programs. We followed functional parameters (time, acuity), subjective parameters (preference, satisfaction) and physiological parameters (pulse, skin temperature, sweating, respiratory rate, and muscle tension).Time for task completion was significantly longer in elderly compared to younger participants in all experimental websites, without significant differences in accuracy. Yet, in specific tasks the elderly performed better than young participants. Specific suggestions for data entry and data visualization are presented.KeywordsE-careinteractive healthcare servicesdata visualizationpatient- oriented systemstelemedicinedesign methods