MEDDALI ONLINE KONSULTA

A Web Application Aimed at Encouraging Filipino Senior Citizens to Participate in Synchronous Audio-video Telehealth Consultations

Gen Alvarado

Older adults have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 global pandemic in many ways. They are among the most vulnerable to the disease because the risk for hospitalization and death increases along with age. They are also among the most restricted by community quarantines in the Philippines as they are advised to stay at home.

Because of the heightened risks and restrictions, it can be difficult to meet their daily needs, including the need for medical care. One way to address this is through telehealth consultations. To encourage older adults to adopt this type of service, we must consider their perspectives, experiences, and limitations.

Some challenges older adults face with technology, in general, are literacy, data management, privacy, and their lack of representation in technology co-design. In addition, changes related to aging can affect how older adults interact with hardware and software. For Filipino senior citizens, in particular, some factors that affect the intent to participate in telehealth are computer confidence and web usefulness.

Based on these factors and challenges, the proposed solution is MEDdali Online Konsulta, a web application aimed at encouraging Filipino senior citizens to participate in synchronous audio-video telehealth consultations. The name ‘MEDdali’ conveys the goal of the project - to make the process of seeking medical care online both quick and easy.

The web application is designed to accommodate changes in vision, hearing, touch, and cognition related to aging. By being easy to learn and navigate, demonstrating the benefits of telehealth, and addressing privacy concerns, MEDdali can help serve as a starting point for Filipino senior citizens to engage in telehealth consultations from which they can greatly benefit.

The prototype can be accessed on Framer through this link: tinyurl.com/MEDdalipreview

Gen Alvarado is a visual communication student working full-time in the field of search advertising as of this writing.

E-mail: gen.alvarado.cfa@gmail.com