As part of its co-creation activities, CARAMEL is developing a digital Prevention Portal designed to support both women and healthcare professionals in understanding and managing cardiovascular risk during menopause. The portal will bring together accessible information, self-assessment tools and practical resources, helping women to better understand their individual risk and take informed actions for their heart health, while also providing healthcare professionals with clearer insights and support for patient communication and prevention strategies. It is conceived as a user-friendly entry point to the broader CARAMEL approach, combining scientific knowledge with everyday usability.

From the early stages of development, women and healthcare professionals have been actively involved in shaping the structure and content of the platform through a series of co-creation workshops. Following an initial session focused on collecting needs, expectations and first impressions, the second workshop provided an opportunity to further refine the website based on user feedback.

The sessions brought together participants from the project’s clinical sites to review the current version of the homepage and a couple of pages addressing specific topics related to cardiovascular disease for women, with a particular focus on clarity, usability and trust. Discussions explored how information is presented, how intuitive the navigation is, and how effectively the website communicates its purpose from the very first interaction.

The insights gathered during the workshop did not remain theoretical but were directly translated into concrete updates to the website.

Based on the feedback received, the homepage structure has been reorganised to make navigation more intuitive and to highlight sections considered more relevant. Some sections have been renamed to improve clarity. The CARAMEL logo has also been integrated more prominently to strengthen recognition and coherence. To enhance transparency and reinforce credibility, the EU emblem and a short note explaining the non-commercial nature of the website have been added.

These elements respond directly to the importance participants placed on trust and clarity.

Beyond the immediate changes, the workshop also generated further suggestions that will inform the next phases of development. These ideas will contribute to enriching the portal over time, ensuring that it remains accessible, relevant and aligned with women’s needs.

The second co-creation workshop confirms the value of structured user involvement within CARAMEL. By systematically integrating participant feedback into the design process, the project strengthens the usability and transparency of its digital tools.

The CARAMEL Prevention Portal will continue to evolve in the coming months. To stay updated on new features, upcoming co-creation workshops and project developments, follow CARAMEL through our website and social media channels.