Kaufmann, Béatrice

Abstract Purpose : Inclusive design seeks to ensure that digital health interventions (DHIs) are accessible, acceptable, and useful for older adults by addressing functional, health-related, and socio-cultural needs. This study aimed to identify factors influencing the inclusivity of DHIs for older adults and to compare perspectives derived from the literature, expert interviews, and a focus group with older adults. By triangulating these perspectives, we sought to establish a common set of factors to inform inclusive design guidelines for DHIs targeting older adults. Methods : Inclusive design criteria were identified and triangulated using three complementary sources: a scoping literature review, semi-structured expert interviews, and a focus group with older adults. Convergences and divergences across these sources were analyzed to determine shared and context-specific priorities for inclusive DHI design. Results : Older adults emphasized the importance of emotional reassurance, analog alternatives, and personal contact with healthcare professionals to reduce anxiety and strengthen feelings of safety and trust. Experts highlighted healthcare system integration, co-design processes, regulatory compliance, sustainable financing models, and ethical considerations such as privacy protection and the avoidance of stigmatization. The literature most frequently emphasized equity-related factors, including affordability and insurance coverage, interoperability across devices and platforms, and tailoring content to individual needs. Across all three sources, there was strong convergence regarding the importance of usability, accessibility, personalization, and user support. Conclusions : The findings demonstrate that inclusive DHI design for older adults requires attention not only to usability and accessibility, but also to emotional, ethical, and systemic dimensions. The convergence across literature, expert, and user perspectives suggests that usability, accessibility, personalization, and ongoing user support constitute foundational requirements for inclusive design guidelines for DHIs aimed at older adults.