Sundhed.dk has evolved continuously since its launch in December 2003, including the comprehensive technical upgrade of 2009. It now has thousands of articles and many options with comprehensive data, and the quality of its information has over the past eight years led to many loyal users. However, the presentation and structure had remained much the same since the portal's launch, with some users finding it messy, boring and hard to navigate.
The upgrade benefits users since navigating is now more user-friendly and Sundhed.dk is now divided clearly into sections for individuals and sections for healthcare. In addition, the portal has become more personalised. When users log in using, for example, NemID, they see all their personal data displayed immediately.
Regarding presentation, the colours have been adjusted and the pages are now spread over a larger portion of the screen, enabling more content to be displayed. Popular services like E-journal, Medicine Profile and My hospital treatments have a new design. However, popular features like Patient Network (with more than 1 500 posts from users) and Patient Handbook (more than 3 000 articles and 2 000 illustrations) continue in their established formats.
"We have striven for a design that combines our strengths in reliability, courtesy and professionalism, with more clarity and warmth," said Sundhed.dk's director Morten Elbæk Petersen. "Comments from the tests suggest that we have really hit the target. After these first steps we will, under the heading 'consistent user experiences', continue the user-driven improvement, by also changing the structure of the various services, and by combining data and content in new and more user-friendly ways."
A study by Sundhed.dk indicated that the Internet is perceived to be the most credible channel in contact with the public - in front of telephone contact and email. This is particularly the case for men.
"A large part of the population would like to meet the Government online," said Bent Hansen, President of Sundhed.dk's Board of Directors. "In this Sundhed.dk, together with other public sites, builds on well-established credibility, and combines it with greater ease of use. With the Internet, it is the users who have the power."
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