Currently submitted to: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Oct 26, 2026
Open Peer Review Period: Nov 3, 2026 - Dec 29, 2026
(currently open for review)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Usability, Feasibility, and Acceptability of a Web-Based Cognitive Training Program Among Cognitively Healthy Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Convergent Mixed-Methods Pilot Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Web-based cognitive training may offer an accessible approach to support cognitive health among community-dwelling older adults. Before effectiveness testing, it is essential to evaluate the usability, feasibility, and acceptability of such interventions among intended end users and clinical facilitators.
Objective:
This pilot study evaluated the usability, feasibility, and acceptability of a web-based cognitive training program among cognitively healthy community-dwelling older adults and occupational therapy facilitators.
Methods:
A convergent mixed-methods pilot study was conducted with 35 community-dwelling older adults and 10 occupational therapy facilitators. Participants completed one supervised 45-minute session with the web-based program. Quantitative outcomes included usability, assessed using the System Usability Scale (SUS), and feasibility and acceptability, assessed using 5-point Likert-scale checklists. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results:
Among 35 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 70.1, SD 6.8 years) and 10 occupational therapy facilitators (mean age 36.3, SD 10.8 years), perceived usability was high, with mean SUS scores of 83.37 (SD 7.32) and 83.40 (SD 6.40), respectively. Mean feasibility ratings were 4.36 (SD 0.52) among older adults and 4.45 (SD 0.33) among facilitators, while acceptability ratings were 4.49 (SD 0.53) and 4.65 (SD 0.46), respectively. Thematic analysis identified 5 themes among older adults and 4 themes among facilitators. Participants valued personalized recommendations, accessibility, and clinical relevance, whereas font size limitations, text-heavy content, and occasional technical instability were identified as barriers.
Conclusions:
SmartBrain Seniors demonstrated high usability, feasibility, and acceptability among community-dwelling older adults and occupational therapy facilitators. The findings support further refinement of the platform and subsequent evaluation in adequately powered studies examining its effectiveness for cognitive health outcomes.
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