Co-design of the Intelligent HOme-based Palliative care for End-of-life system: A development and feasibility study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop the Intelligent HOme-based Palliative care for End-of-life (I-HOPE) system, a WeChat mini-program designed to provide home-based palliative care (HBPC), including education, interaction, and social resource access for users.MethodsA mixed-method approach was employed to ensure a comprehensive exploration of user needs, system design, and evaluation. This approach integrated qualitative and quantitative methods, rapid prototyping, expert consultations, and co-design methodologies informed by social ecological theory. Four key stakeholder groups i.e. patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and the general public were included. Initially, field research and surveys were conducted to assess the palliative care needs of patients and caregivers. Based on these findings, the mini-program was developed in collaboration with a technical team specializing in healthcare technology. Usability, user experiences, and suggestions for improvement were then collected. This study was conducted in three tertiary hospitals and two community health service centers in Beijing, China.ResultsThe I-HOPE system achieved a System Usability Scale score of 71.89 ± 13.85. User feedback on version 1.0 led to improvements in interface design, features, information presentation, usability, and privacy protection.ConclusionThe development of the I-HOPE system represents an advancement in enhancing the accessibility and quality of HBPC. Future research should focus on identifying areas for further development and assessing its impact on palliative care outcomes.