The Usability of Blood Glucose Meters: Task Performance Differences Between Younger and Older Age Groups

Abstract

This study examines the overall usability of current, commercially available self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) meters in order to highlight how the design affects the performance of younger and older adults. Sixteen younger participants (18-27) and 29 elderly participants (65-85) attempted to complete two tasks: 1) set date/time and 2) perform a control solution test, using two meters: the Accu-Check Compact Plus® and 2) the One Touch Ultra 2®. Overall, elderly participants had significantly more difficulty completing the two tasks and committed significantly more errors than younger participants. When using the Accu-Chek® meter to set the date and time 79% of elderly adults failed compared to 12% of younger adults. When using the One Touch® meter, 21% of elderly adults failed to complete the task while none of the younger adults failed. Across the two tasks, elderly participants made, on average, an additional 1.6 errors compared to those in the younger group.

Effects of User Characteristics on the Usability of a Home-Connected Medical Device (Smart Angel) for Ambulatory Monitoring: Usability Study

“…On the other hand, we did not observe any difference between the age of the subjects and the SUS score (satisfaction). All these results are in line with previous research [ 19 , 20 , 25 , 26 ]. Indeed, younger users are more effective (eg, Jones and Caird's glucometer [ 25 ]) and efficient (eg, Mykityshyn et al's glucometer [ 26 ] and Van der Vaart et al's application for narcoleptics [ 20 ]) compared to older users, with a positive and medium correlation [ 20 ].…”

“…Younger subjects appeared to be more comfortable than older subjects. Jones and Caird [ 25 ] examined the use of a blood glucose meter and found that younger subjects had fewer difficulties and made fewer errors (ie, were more effective) than older subjects. Mykityshyn et al [ 26 ] also examined the use of a glucometer and found that young subjects were faster (ie, more efficient) than older subjects, regardless of the instruction format provided (written and drawn vs video).…”

“…To do this, we formulated 4 hypotheses: (H1) older users will be less effective, efficient , and satisfied with the Smart Angel connected medical device than younger users [ 11 , 20 , 25 , 26 ]; (H2) users with a low level of technophilia (IT and medical device experience) will be less effective, efficient , and satisfied with the Smart Angel connected medical device than those with a high level of technophilia [ 11 , 23 , 27 ]; (H3) the level of education will not affect the effectiveness, efficiency , and satisfaction with the Smart Angel connected medical device [ 11 , 19 , 20 ]; and (H4) users with low levels of health literacy (as measured by NVS and HLS-EU scores) will be less effective, efficient , and satisfied with the Smart Angel connected medical device than those with high levels of health literacy [ 18 , 24 ].…”

Effect of Prior Health Knowledge on the Usability of Two Home Medical Devices: Usability Study (Preprint)

“…We propose below a nonexhaustive analysis focusing on user characteristics that influence usability results (Figure 1). These four main variables are age [3,4,24,25,[29][30][31][32], experience in IT [3,24,32,33], health literacy [29,31,37,38], and motivation [34][35][36]. For instance, a study by Loorbach et al [50] showed that more motivating manual instructions improved effectiveness and efficiency (but not satisfaction) in relation to a mobile phone in an elderly (age 60-70 years) population.…”

“…• Age: young users outperform older users [3,4,24,25,[29][30][31][32] • Experience in information technology (IT) (or technophilia), that is, previous experience in computer and medical devices: technology experts outperform novices [3,24,32,33] • Motivation: more motivated users outperform less motivated users [34][35][36] • Health literacy: users with high levels of health literacy outperform users with low levels of health literacy [29,31,37] With regard to the relationships between these above-mentioned characteristics and usability, there are only few studies examining the link between health [29,31,37,38] or eHealth literacy [29], particularly prior health knowledge, and usability.…”