Healthcare Application Design for Older Adults: The Effects of Demonstration and Split Persona

This study investigates instructional methods to support older adults in independently using digital healthcare applications for dementia prevention. Grounded in social cognitive theory, the research evaluates the effects of virtual agent demonstrations and “split persona” roles. By employing a 2 (demonstration: demonstration vs. no demonstration) x 2 (split persona: one vs. two) between-subjects design, the study examines the effects on elderly participants’ task comprehension and their attitudes towards agents and the application. Results reveal that agent-led demonstrations significantly enhance both perceived and actual task performance, improve ease of use, and increase the perceived anthropomorphism of agents. In contrast, while employing multiple agents (split persona) reduced perceived difficulty, it did not significantly improve performance or user attitudes, potentially due to increased cognitive load. These findings suggest that intuitive, demonstration-based guidance is essential for overcoming digital literacy barriers among the elderly. The research underscores the importance of user-centric design in digital therapeutics, concluding that virtual agents effectively substitute human assistance when roles are carefully managed to optimize cognitive engagement and independence in aging populations.