JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Singapore’s large aging population poses significant challenges for the healthcare system in managing cognitive decline, underscoring the importance of identifying and implementing effective interventions. Cognitive training delivered remotely as a digital therapeutic (DTx) may serve as a scalable and accessible approach to overcoming these challenges. While previous studies indicate the potential of cognitive training as a promising solution for managing cognitive decline, understanding the attitudes and experiences of older adults towards using such DTx platforms remains relatively unexplored.

Objective:

This study aimed to characterize the general acceptability and user experience of CURATE.DTx, a multitasking-based DTx platform that challenges the cognitive domains of attention, problem-solving, and executive function, in the Singaporean older adult population.

Methods:

Fifteen older adult participants (mean age = 66.1 ± 3.5 years) were recruited for a 90-minute in-person, semi-structured interview session, which included a short playtest of CURATE.DTx, followed by a 60-minute interview to understand their overall attitudes, experience, motivation, and views of the intervention. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, then analyzed using an inductive approach. Thematic analysis was employed to identify emerging patterns and insights.

Results:

Three main themes, and their respective subthemes, emerged from the interviews: comprehension, with subthemes of instruction and task comprehension; acceptability with subthemes of tablet usability, engagement and enjoyment, and attitude and perceived benefits; and facilitators to adoption, with subthemes of framing and aesthetics, motivation recommendations and the role of medical professionals. Our findings revealed that participants encountered some challenges with understanding certain elements of CURATE.DTx. Nevertheless, they were still highly engaged with it, finding the challenge to be enjoyable. Participants also showed a strong awareness of the importance of cognitive training and expressed a keen interest in using CURATE.DTx for this purpose, especially if recommended by medical professionals.

Conclusions:

Given the positive level of engagement and feedback obtained from Singaporean older adults on CURATE.DTx, the current study can serve as a basis for future platform iterations and strategies that should be considered during implementation. Future studies should continue implementing an iterative co-design approach to ensure broader applicability and effectiveness of interventions tailored to this demographic.