LINE OA Platform 'Kidney Lifestyle' Enhances CKD Dyad Collaboration in Health Management

Why It Matters

This research highlights the potential of familiar communication tools, like instant messaging apps, to deliver targeted health interventions. By involving end-users and healthcare professionals throughout the development process, designers can create more usable and impactful digital health solutions that address specific user needs and promote sustained behavior change.

Key Finding

The 'Kidney Lifestyle' platform was well-received by CKD dyads and their caregivers, who found it valuable for health management due to its interactive features, data monitoring capabilities, and educational content, with expert reviews and user testing confirming its usability.

Key Findings

• CKD dyads reported high overall satisfaction (4.1/5) with the platform, valuing real-time interaction, convenient health data monitoring, and educational resources.
• Heuristic evaluation identified areas for improvement based on established usability principles.
• Usability testing demonstrated high task success rates and positive perceptions of usability.

Research Evidence

Aim: To develop, optimize, and test the usability of a digital platform ('Kidney Lifestyle' via LINE Official Account) for collaborative lifestyle modification among chronic kidney disease (CKD) dyads.

Method: Agile-based development cycle including iterative development, heuristic evaluation, and usability testing.

Procedure: The platform was iteratively developed and trialed by CKD dyads, followed by heuristic evaluation by experts against usability principles, and finally, usability testing with experienced CKD dyads performing representative tasks.

Sample Size: 19 individuals (10 CKD dyads) in phase 1; 5 experts in phase 2; experienced CKD dyads from phase 1 in phase 3.

Context: Digital health intervention for chronic kidney disease (CKD) management, focusing on dyadic collaboration.

Design Principle

Leverage ubiquitous communication platforms and employ iterative, user-centered design to create effective digital health interventions.

How to Apply

When designing digital health tools, consider using platforms already familiar to users and involve them directly in the design and testing phases to ensure relevance and usability.

Limitations

The study focused on a specific chronic condition (CKD) and a particular platform (LINE OA), potentially limiting generalizability to other conditions or communication tools.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: A messaging app designed with patients and their families can help them manage chronic illnesses like kidney disease better because it's easy to use and offers helpful features.

Why This Matters: This shows that you can create useful digital tools by making them easy to use and by involving the people who will actually use them, which is important for any design project.

Critical Thinking: How might the 'Digital Dyadic Empowerment Framework' have specifically guided the design decisions and feature prioritization within the 'Kidney Lifestyle' platform?

IA-Ready Paragraph: The development of the 'Kidney Lifestyle' LINE Official Account demonstrated that leveraging familiar messaging platforms and employing an iterative, user-centered design process, including expert evaluations and usability testing with target users, can lead to the creation of effective and highly usable digital health interventions that support collaborative lifestyle modification.

Project Tips

• When designing a digital product, think about how users already communicate and what tools they are comfortable with.
• Involve potential users and subject matter experts early and often in your design process.

How to Use in IA

• Reference this study when discussing the importance of user involvement and the use of familiar platforms in digital design projects, especially those related to health or communication.

Examiner Tips

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of user needs by showing how your design choices directly address feedback from user testing or expert reviews.

Independent Variable: ["Platform features (e.g., real-time interaction, data monitoring, educational resources)","User involvement in development","Expert heuristic evaluation"]

Dependent Variable: ["User satisfaction","Intention to continue usage","Task success rates","Completion times","Operational errors","Usability perceptions"]

Controlled Variables: ["User characteristics (CKD dyads)","Specific tasks performed","Evaluation criteria (Nielsen's principles, ASQ, SUS)"]

Strengths

• Employed a robust, multi-phase development and testing methodology.
• Involved both end-users (CKD dyads) and domain experts (healthcare professionals) in the design process.

Critical Questions

• What are the long-term implications of using a platform like LINE OA for chronic disease management beyond initial usability?
• How can the 'Digital Dyadic Empowerment Framework' be adapted for designing interventions for other dyadic health contexts?

Extended Essay Application

• Investigate the effectiveness of a co-designed digital communication tool in supporting a specific user group's collaborative goal, measuring engagement and outcome metrics over an extended period.

Source

A Messaging App Empowering Lifestyle Modification in Chronic Kidney Disease (LINE Official Account “Kidney Lifestyle”): Platform Development and Usability Study · JMIR Human Factors · 2025 · 10.2196/73935