Evaluating the Usability of Co-Created Public-Facing Knowledge Mobilization Resources for the Canadian Guidelines for Post COVID-19 Condition

BackgroundThe Canadian Guidelines for Post COVID-19 Condition (CAN-PCC), along with related knowledge mobilization (KM) resources, have been developed to support key interest-holders (e.g., public, healthcare providers, and policymakers) to make informed health decisions related to post COVID-19 condition (PCC). The purpose of this report is to describe the process and findings of our usability testing with members of the public on eight public-facing KM resources to support the CAN-PCC guidelines. These KM resources consist of an online resource sheet and an interactive infographic on four of the PCC guideline topics (1. prevention of PCC; 2. testing, identification and diagnosis; 3. pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions; and 4. pediatric and adolescent health) that have been co-developed with interest-holders to enhance accessibility and understanding of the recommendations. MethodsA convenience sample of members of the public were recruited online through our organizations pre-established networks. Each participant was randomly assigned to review one of eight resources before completing a questionnaire, developed by the research team and pilot-tested by a national Public Advisory Group that was formed to inform this work. The questionnaire contained 24 usability questions (5-point Likert scale, multiple response questions, open-text) that assessed: (1) purpose and organization, (2) credibility, (3) usefulness, (4) desirability, (5) value, and (6) accessibility. Demographic information was also collected. Descriptive statistics and measures of central tendency were calculated to summarize usability and demographic data. Independent t-tests were used to evaluate differences in mean scores between resource formats for each guideline topic. Open-ended responses were analyzed using thematic content analysis. ResultsWe completed usability testing with 64 participants (n=8 assessments per resource) between March and April 2025. All eight resources were highly rated with average mean scores ranging from 3.8 to 4.6 on the 5-point scale, where five indicated Strongly Agree. No statistically significant differences were observed between total scores for the different resources, however, differences across some domains (e.g., credibility, desirability, value, accessibility; p<0.05) suggested that each resource type offers distinct strengths depending on the feature being assessed. Strengths of the resources included ease of understanding, clear and effective visual designs, and an empowering tone (e.g., sharing practice tips). Areas for improvement included clarifying the overall purpose and content related to the recommendations, as well as enhancing the visibility of embedded links within the resources. ConclusionsUsability testing provided valuable insights into the usefulness and clarity of the resources. Final resources were made publicly available on the CAN-PCC website (https://canpcc.ca/resources/#tab-content-patients-and-general-public) in April 2025. We further disseminated the resources through social media channels and other pre-established networks. The findings will guide future guideline-related KM product development to ensure resources are useful, accessible, user-friendly and better meet the needs of the public.