Health Self-Monitoring Education
This interactive, accessible training course empowers older adults to confidently use at-home medical devices, including blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, and pulse oximeters.
Designed for a range of devices and accessible via QR code, the course features clear visuals, large text, audio support, and hands-on demonstrations to promote independence and health literacy.
Project Overview
A self-directed course for elderly adults to learn how to monitor blood pressure and manage health at home, hosted on pharmacy iPads and accessible via QR codes.
Audience
This course was designed for older adults in Ireland, specifically targeting individuals with limited experience using digital health tools. It aimed to support self-management of health conditions by teaching users how to monitor their blood pressure at home using pharmacy-recommended devices.
Responsibilities
This was my solo Master's project. I led every stage of development, from initial research to instructional design, visual production, implementation, and evaluation. Key responsibilities included:
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Conducting user research and pharmacy survey
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Designing course structure and content
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Producing all media assets: graphics, icons, animations, videos, and voiceovers
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Developing the course in Articulate Storyline
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Implementing xAPI for learning analytics via AWS and an external Learning Record Store (LRS)
Tools Used:
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Articulate Storyline (Main course development)
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Adobe Illustrator and Blender (Icons, illustrations and 3D assets)
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Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects (Video editing and motion graphics)
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AWS (xAPI tracking) and Veracity (LRS Platform)
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Mailchimp and Microsoft Forms (surveys)
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Miro (mood board and planning)
The Problem
Many elderly individuals rely on pharmacies for blood pressure checks, despite the availability of accurate at-home monitors.
Barriers include fear of using unfamiliar devices, low digital literacy, and lack of accessible training. Pharmacists often lack the time to walk patients through device usage, leading to poor adherence and underutilised self-care tools.
The Solution
I designed a self-paced, visually rich learning experience accessible via in-pharmacy iPads and QR-code flyers.
The course simplifies blood pressure
self-monitoring by walking users through:
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Understanding why monitoring matters
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How to set up and use a digital BP monitor
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How to record and interpret results
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When to seek professional advice
Accessibility was a central focus, featuring large buttons, audio narration, and supportive visuals tailored to older learners.
The Process
This course was developed using the Dick & Carey model for a structured, learner-centred design. Bloom’s Taxonomy guided measurable learning objectives, while Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction ensured engagement and effective skill acquisition.
Analysis & Research
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Created three personas representing different ages, digital skills, and device
experience to guide design and accessibility. -
Gathered insights from pharmacists via survey
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Reviewed best practices from HSE, and self-monitoring articles and journal entries
Mary Ryan is a 76 year old female. This persona was curated to reflect the most optimal course user. An elderly individual with strong cognitive abilities and wanting to learn more.
Patrick (Paddy) Daly is an 82 year old male. This persona was created to reflect the least optimal user of the course. He is reluctant to use technology, has outdated views, and can be stubborn to learn new things.
Here is a snapshot of the type of demographic that responded to the survey as well as their base locations.
Mary Ryan is a 76 year old female. This persona was curated to reflect the most optimal course user. An elderly individual with strong cognitive abilities and wanting to learn more.
Design & Planning
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Developed a detailed storyboard and low-fidelity prototype to visualise
course structure, content flow, and learner interactions before full development. -
Defined clear, measurable learning objectives for the overall course and specifically for the blood pressure module, ensuring alignment with Bloom’s Taxonomy and targeted skill mastery.
Images Above: Low Fidelity Prototype
Development
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Built the course in Articulate Storyline, incorporating custom illustrations, icons,
and motion graphics to create an engaging and visually cohesive learning experience. -
Wrote, recorded, and edited all video content and text-to-speech elements, ensuring clarity, accessibility, and consistent tone throughout the course.
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Implemented all interactive elements and integrated JavaScript
enhancements to support advanced functionality and learner engagement.
Overall story view of all slides within the Health Self-Monitoring course.
An example of a slide from the Health Self-Monitoring course from within Articulate Storyline.
An example of the player window within Articulate Storyline.
Overall story view of all slides within the Health Self-Monitoring course.
Implementation & Feedback
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xAPI Integration: Embedded xAPI statements throughout the course to track detailed learner behaviours, interactions, and progress for comprehensive analytics.
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Data Hosting & Reporting: Hosted xAPI statements on AWS and connected to an external Learning Record Store (LRS) to enable robust reporting and performance monitoring.
Mood Board & Style Guide
The visual language was designed to feel calm, familiar, and trustworthy. I used a medical-soft colour palette, high-contrast typography for readability, and simple line illustrations for clarity. Buttons were large and well spaced for accessibility.
Colour Palette:
Typeface:
Key Features
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Fully Accessible UI: Large tap targets, simple navigation, audio-enhanced content
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Custom Media: All graphics, voiceovers, and animations were original and age-appropriate
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xAPI Implementation: Tracked course progress, user actions, and completion data
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Microlearning Segments: Learners could complete short sections over multiple visits
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Scaffolded Assessments: Provided immediate feedback in a non-intimidating format
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Printable Takeaways: Included a course flyer and simple BP tracking magnetic postcard
Results & Takeaways
The course was piloted with older test users who reported increased confidence in using blood pressure monitors. They also valued the visual simplicity and appreciated that the course could reduce time spent explaining routine tasks.
From this project, I gained experience not just in instructional design but also in UX for accessibility, system integration with xAPI, and real-world impact measurement. It also reinforced my belief that design can empower underrepresented users when done with empathy and precision.
Future Goals
The course was built with modularity in mind,
and future modules will expand to cover:
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Pulse Oximetry Monitoring
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Blood Glucose Monitoring
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TENS Pain Management
I'd also like to partner with healthcare providers to implement access in waiting rooms and GP clinics, expanding reach and supporting the HSE’s shift toward community-based care.