["Accessing lucid data that is specific to the region": Implementation and evaluation of an online platform for research data in the Rhineland metropolitan region using the example of health care research in the last year of life].

Abstract

Introduction: Healthcare research results often do not find their way into practice due to missing or under-utilized communication channels. Consequently, these results fail to impact the healthcare system. To bridge this "translation gap," solutions tailored to the needs and habits of users are required.

Methods: We conceptualized and implemented an online platform to communicate the results of two completed healthcare research projects to both professionals and the public in Cologne. This was achieved using a co-design approach with end users. The platform was evaluated for user satisfaction, efficiency, effectiveness, conformity with expectations, and usage through participant observation, an online survey, and web statistics analysis. A final redesign was conducted based on the evaluation.

Results: The platform was implemented according to the co-design concept. Most online survey participants found the site easy to use and engaging in terms of content. However, criticisms included the lack of multimedia and interactive content, the large amount of text used, and the absence of specific expected information.

Discussion: After the redesign, the platform met part of the requirements emerging from the evaluation. Nonetheless, improvements are needed in multimedia and interactive content presentation, as identified in the evaluation. The lack of specific expected content highlights unanswered research questions of the underlying projects.

Conclusion: The developed platform has been online since the end of the development phase and continues to be used. The study demonstrated that a co-design approach can yield usable results in the field of science.