The most used questionnaires for evaluating the usability of robots and smart wearables: A scoping review

Introduction mHealth apps are widely utilized in healthcare. To guarantee their usefulness and usability, it is crucial to assess them using a reliable scale tailored specifically for mHealth apps and their users. Objective The aim of this study is the psychometric assessment of the provider version of mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) in Persian language. Method The Persian translations of standalone and interactive versions of the MAUQ for healthcare providers underwent validation. Face validity, content validity, and factor analysis were conducted to validate these two versions. Ten nurses evaluated face validity, while ten nursing and psychometric analysis experts assessed content validity. Factor analysis involved 98 nurses. The reliability of the questionnaires was measured using Cronbach’s alpha. Results The translated questionnaires were validated, confirming both face validity (impact score ≥ 2.40) and content validity (k*≥0.66). The Persian version of the MAUQ for standalone applications had 18 items across two dimensions: easy to use and usefulness (11 items) and user interface and satisfaction (7 items). The Persian version of the MAUQ for interactive applications had 21 items across three dimensions: easy to use (4 items), usefulness (5 items), and user interface and satisfaction (12 items). Both standalone and interactive versions demonstrated high internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.96. Conclusions The psychometric assessment of the provider version of MAUQ in Persian language has the reliability and validity required to assess mHealth applications usability. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12911-024-02792-w.

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Evaluating the User Experience and Usability of the MINI Robot for Elderly Adults with Mild Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Insights and Recommendations

Mahmoudi Asl,

Toribio-Guzmán,

Castro-González

et al. 2024

Sensors

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Introduction: In recent years, the integration of robotic systems into various aspects of daily life has become increasingly common. As these technologies continue to advance, ensuring user-friendly interfaces and seamless interactions becomes more essential. For social robots to genuinely provide lasting value to humans, a favourable user experience (UX) emerges as an essential prerequisite. This article aimed to evaluate the usability of the MINI robot, highlighting its strengths and areas for improvement based on user feedback and performance. Materials and Methods: In a controlled lab setting, a mixed-method qualitative study was conducted with ten individuals aged 65 and above diagnosed with mild dementia (MD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Participants engaged in individual MINI robot interaction sessions, completing cognitive tasks as per written instructions. Video and audio recordings documented interactions, while post-session System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaires quantified usability perception. Ethical guidelines were followed, ensuring informed consent, and the data underwent qualitative and quantitative analyses, contributing insights into the MINI robot’s usability for this demographic. Results: The study addresses the ongoing challenges that tasks present, especially for MD individuals, emphasizing the importance of user support. Most tasks require both verbal and physical interactions, indicating that MD individuals face challenges when switching response methods within subtasks. These complexities originate from the selection and use of response methods, including difficulties with voice recognition, tablet touch, and tactile sensors. These challenges persist across tasks, with individuals with MD struggling to comprehend task instructions and provide correct answers and individuals with MCI struggling to use response devices, often due to the limitations of the robot’s speech recognition. Technical shortcomings have been identified. The results of the SUS indicate positive perceptions, although there are lower ratings for instructor assistance and pre-use learning. The average SUS score of 68.3 places device usability in the “good” category. Conclusions: Our study examines the usability of the MINI robot, revealing strengths in quick learning, simple system and operation, and integration of features, while also highlighting areas for improvement. Careful design and modifications are essential for meaningful engagement with people with dementia. The robot could better benefit people with MD and MCI if clear, detailed instructions and instructor assistance were available.

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The most used questionnaires for evaluating the usability of robots and smart wearables: A scoping review

Cited by 3 publications

References 82 publications

Usability Evaluation of a Mobile Application for Foot Health Monitoring of Smart Insoles: A Mixed Methods Study

Usability Evaluation of a Mobile Application for Foot Health Monitoring of Smart Insoles: A Mixed Methods Study

The psychometric assessment of the provider version of mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) in persian language

Evaluating the User Experience and Usability of the MINI Robot for Elderly Adults with Mild Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Insights and Recommendations

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