Designing Apps to Support Engagement by Older Adults: A think-aloud study of the eNutri dietary-intake assessment web app

Evidence suggests that, compared with younger users, older adults benefit from additional support when engaging with new apps. This paper presents a remote observation study of 15 UK older adults (aged >65 years) using eNutri, a web-based dietary assessment app. The results highlight the importance placed by older adults on having good instructions and support when learning and using apps, and suggest that including features such as instructional videos, “contact us” information, and explicit guidance on “commonly-known” features may be important for this population. The study also found heterogeneity within the group in terms of app delivery preferences (smartphone vs web-based), which serves as a reminder that when designing apps for older adults, it may be helpful to bear in mind the variation in people's use of and comfort with types of devices.