'AgeWell Europe', an 8-week on-demand exercise and health education program for middle-aged and older adults: Experiences and perceptions from focus groups conducted in three European countries

<ns3:p>Background Online exercise and health programs have demonstrated benefits and can help overcome some of the barriers associated with face-to-face physical activity for middle-aged and older adults. However, many programs are based on live, interactive methods, which are believed to contribute to positive outcomes. Less is known about on-demand exercise and health education programs such as AgeWell. This study explores middle-aged and older adults' perceptions and experiences of AgeWell in terms of its usability, technological functionality, and content, with the aim of better understanding potential outcomes and informing adjustments to existing platforms as well as the development of future programs. Methods A qualitative analysis was conducted using data from seven focus groups held between April and May 2025, involving twenty-seven middle-aged and older adults from three European countries: Germany, Ireland, and Slovenia. Focus groups were transcribed and translated. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis based on Thomas. Results Three themes were identified: (1) perceived usability; (2) experiences with technology; and (3) thoughts on content. Each theme included several subthemes and codes, most of which were shared across groups. A few age-specific group subthemes were also identified. Opinions on these subthemes were partly similar and partly divergent between middle-aged and older adults. Conclusions Participants were positive about AgeWell, highlighting its accessible, on-demand, and user-friendly format as well as the option to choose between different difficulty levels. Several recommendations emerged that are relevant not only for improving this platform, but also for guiding the development of other current or future exercise and health education platforms. A key takeaway is the importance of offering more individualized exercise options to accommodate the diverse needs of both middle-aged and older adults. This could be achieved by collecting user information and using it to guide participants toward a tailored pathway that best suits their abilities.</ns3:p>