Short answer

Designers must actively involve end-users and relevant professionals from the outset to ensure that IoT health solutions are not only technologically sound but also practically beneficial and desirable.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: JMIR Formative Research (2026)
Method: Qualitative, stakeholder-informed design study using semi-structured interviews and a demonstration video review.
Sample: 13 participants (6 cancer patients, 5 ADRD patients and caregivers, 2 healthcare providers, 2 community health workers, 2 computer scientists)
Evidence: Moderate effect

Incorporating direct feedback from patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals during the conceptualization phase of IoT health systems significantly enhances their relevance and usability. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2026 study published in JMIR Formative Research. Using Qualitative, stakeholder-informed design study using semi-structured interviews and a demonstration video review. with 13 participants (6 cancer patients, 5 ADRD patients and caregivers, 2 healthcare providers, 2 community health workers, 2 computer scientists), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers must actively involve end-users and relevant professionals from the outset to ensure that IoT health solutions are not only technologically sound but also practically beneficial and desirable.

Study

User-Centred DesignNew This WeekModerate effect

Co-designing IoT health systems with diverse user groups yields higher adoption potential.

Incorporating direct feedback from patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals during the conceptualization phase of IoT health systems significantly enhances their relevance and usability.

JMIR Formative Research · 2026

Key Findings

01Patients with cancer prioritized physical health monitoring, integration with healthcare systems, and customization.
02Patients with ADRD and their caregivers highlighted the need for intuitive interfaces, safety features, and support for daily routines.
03All stakeholder groups emphasized the importance of privacy, data security, and ease of use.
04The UTAUT2 framework provided a useful lens for understanding adoption factors like performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, and hedonic motivation/habit.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

Before developing any new health technology, conduct in-depth interviews and co-design workshops with the target user groups and their support networks to identify core needs and potential barriers to adoption.

Project actions

01Clearly define your target user group and their specific challenges.
02Use qualitative research methods like interviews or focus groups to gather rich, detailed user insights.
03Consider using frameworks like UTAUT2 to structure your understanding of user adoption factors.

Method & Evidence

AimTo explore stakeholder perspectives on using smart home-based IoT systems for chronic illness management to inform the early development of a connected audio and radio system.

MethodQualitative, stakeholder-informed design study using semi-structured interviews and a demonstration video review.

ProcedureConducted interviews with patients (post-ostomy for cancer, with ADRD), their caregivers, healthcare providers, community health workers, and computer scientists. Stakeholders reviewed a conceptual IoT system demonstration and discussed their needs and preferences.

Sample13 participants (6 cancer patients, 5 ADRD patients and caregivers, 2 healthcare providers, 2 community health workers, 2 computer scientists)

ContextDevelopment of an Internet of Things (IoT) system (AURA) for supporting older adults with physical and cognitive health challenges in managing chronic illnesses at home.

Variables

IV["User group (e.g., cancer patient, ADRD patient, caregiver, healthcare provider)","Type of IoT system features discussed"]

DV["Stakeholder needs and preferences","Perceived usefulness of IoT features","Identified barriers and facilitators to adoption"]

CV["The conceptual demonstration video of the AURA system","The semi-structured interview guide"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Inclusion of diverse stakeholder perspectives (patients, caregivers, providers, technical experts).
+Application of a recognized theoretical framework (UTAUT2) to guide analysis.

Limitations

The findings are based on a small number of participants and may not represent the experiences of all users. The study focused on specific health conditions.

Reliability & validity

The study's qualitative nature and thematic analysis provide rich insights but may have limited generalizability. The use of a theoretical framework enhances analytical rigor. Triangulation of data from different stakeholder groups strengthens validity.

Think critically

How might the differing needs of cancer patients and ADRD patients necessitate entirely separate design approaches for IoT health systems, rather than a single, generalized solution?

Design Principles

"User needs and preferences should be the primary drivers of technological innovation in healthcare."

This approach ensures that technology development is grounded in real-world needs and constraints, moving beyond purely technical feasibility to address user acceptance and practical integration into daily life. By understanding the varied requirements of different user populations, designers can create more effective and empathetic solutions.

What This Means for Your Design

When creating new technology for older adults with health issues, it's really important to ask them and the people who care for them what they need and want. This helps make sure the technology will actually be useful and easy to use.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when justifying the need for user research in your design process.
2.Use the findings to inform your user personas and user journey maps, highlighting specific needs identified in the research.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the critical importance of user-centered design in developing assistive technologies for older adults with health challenges. By engaging directly with patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, designers can uncover nuanced needs and preferences that are essential for creating effective and adoptable solutions. The study's findings underscore that a co-design approach, informed by frameworks like UTAUT2, leads to a deeper understanding of factors influencing technology acceptance, such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and hedonic motivation, thereby guiding the development of more relevant and user-friendly IoT systems.

Source

JMIR Formative Research

An Internet of Things–Based Audio and Radio Connected System Supporting Older Adults With Physical and Cognitive Health Challenges: Qualitative Stakeholder-Informed Design Study

journal · 2026

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about co-designing iot health systems with diverse user groups yields higher adoption potential?: Designers must actively involve end-users and relevant professionals from the outset to ensure that IoT health solutions are not only technologically sound but also practically beneficial and desirable. Evidence: JMIR Formative Research (2026).
Why does "Co-designing IoT health systems with diverse user groups yields higher adoption potential." matter for design?: This approach ensures that technology development is grounded in real-world needs and constraints, moving beyond purely technical feasibility to address user acceptance and practical integration into daily life. By understanding the varied requirements of different user populations, designers can create more effective and empathetic solutions.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers must actively involve end-users and relevant professionals from the outset to ensure that IoT health solutions are not only technologically sound but also practically beneficial and desirable.
What were the main findings?: Patients with cancer prioritized physical health monitoring, integration with healthcare systems, and customization.. Patients with ADRD and their caregivers highlighted the need for intuitive interfaces, safety features, and support for daily routines.. All stakeholder groups emphasized the importance of privacy, data security, and ease of use.. The UTAUT2 framework provided a useful lens for understanding adoption factors like performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, and hedonic motivation/habit.
What research method was used?: Qualitative, stakeholder-informed design study using semi-structured interviews and a demonstration video review. with 13 participants (6 cancer patients, 5 ADRD patients and caregivers, 2 healthcare providers, 2 community health workers, 2 computer scientists).
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2026 journal from JMIR Formative Research.
What should I do differently in my next project?: Before developing any new health technology, conduct in-depth interviews and co-design workshops with the target user groups and their support networks to identify core needs and potential barriers to adoption.
What are the limitations?: The study involved a small sample size and focused on specific chronic conditions, potentially limiting the generalizability of findings to all older adults or chronic illness populations.