JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Loneliness among older adults has become a major public health concern associated with cognitive decline, depression and increased healthcare utilization. The advancement of digital health technologies such as wearable devices, smart home systems and mobile health applications, provides new opportunities to monitor and mitigate loneliness through continuous physiological and behavioral assessment. However, the effectiveness of such technologies largely depends on user interface design, ensuring that older users can understand, trust, and comfortably engage with the technology. Existing research on interactive platforms and user interfaces for psychological and emotional monitoring has mainly focused on usability testing and technology feasibility, with limited attention to structured design frameworks that integrate psychological, emotional and accessibility dimensions for older users. Furthermore, most studies rely on qualitative assessments and lack quantitative prioritization of design indicators.

Objective:

This study aimed to develop a user-centered hierarchical framework of interface design indicators for older adults.

Methods:

A mixed-method design was applied, integrating literature search, qualitative focus group analysis and expert consultation to build an initial indicator pool. A hierarchical indicator structure with 7 first-level and 26 second-level indicators was developed. The Analytic Hierarchy Process was used to assign indicator weights through surveys of 20 experts with academic or professional experience in human-computer interaction, digital health, gerontology and health informatics. Based on the weighted results, three interface design solutions were developed and comparatively evaluated using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution.

Results:

Among the 7 first-level indicators, trust and safety (0.206), ease of use (0.187), and accessibility (0.167) received the highest weights, indicating their importance in enhancing user confidence and engagement. Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution evaluation results showed that Design Solution 2 (the interface emphasizing a guided navigation structure and large central status display) achieved the highest overall performance score (C = 0.877), emphasizing clear interaction pathways, visual clarity, and guided feedback as key factors for optimal usability.

Conclusions:

This study developed a user-centered framework for interface design in loneliness monitoring among older adults. By integrating user insights, literature-derived indicators and expert consensus, providing a structured data-driven approach to prioritizing design requirements. The proposed framework bridges subjective user experience with objective evaluation, offering practical guidance for developing empathetic, inclusive and trustworthy digital mental health technologies for older adults.