TABLE 1.

Website adherence to evidence-based visual design features

Feature (reference[s])	Description	How addressed in website design
Accessibility (20–22)	Readability, accessibility by low-speed Internet	Final website text edited to comply with recommended readability level for health education websites (8th grade) ‘Light load’ web design, using small image sizes to enable rapid upload at low Internet speeds Video interviews were transcribed
Ease of use (16,17)	Navigation aids, design consistency across webpages within website, search functionality, uncluttered screen views, condensed text	Ease of use measured directly and serially optimized through search task exercise Navigation assisted by highlighting user’s current position on handy website menu Colours, menu design, font style and size, and use of panels/borders kept consistent across webpages Free word search function created for the entire website screen views uncluttered with maximal white space use, elimination of all redundant content All text content condensed iteratively to convey simple, succinct messages
Interactivity (17,23,24)	User-interactive website features	Playable videos with active controls WRA ‘mini-test’ Downloadable/printable information sheets for colleagues/employers and health care practitioners Links to other relevant websites Hover-based definition pop-ups for jargon or technical words Mouse-over highlighting navigation tabs Website user discussion forum*
Credibility cues (15,22,25)	Clues to aid readers in gauging website credibility and quality	Included names and institutions of all content and format web developers and contributors Included logos of respected respiratory organizations† Included date of last update for all web information
Use of multimedia (26)	Inclusion of various multimedia features	Included video-based real-life stories as a center piece of the educational program
Esthetics (17,20)	Attention to visual appeal of the website	Esthetics measured directly and serially optimized through qualitative feedback from users Recruited an expert media designer in phase 2 for the specific purpose of optimizing website and logo aesthetics
Catering to distinct learning styles (27)	Creating a web-program that appeals to three kinds of learning: by example; by following step-by-step instructions; and by doing	Learning by example through three life-story videos explaining lessons learned Learning by following instructions regarding what to do in the case of asthma that is worse at work Learning by doing through a WRA self-test administered by website users

^*Feature has not yet been launched;

^†Waiting final approval from two respiratory organizations. WRA Work-related asthma