Note that the display mode setting only affects the display mode of a form in Hosted Pages. Filling a form when previewing a care flow or when using Awell Care currently remains unchanged and is done with the regular form mode (all questions on at once). It's also not possible yet to preview your form in the form builder in the conversational mode.
We support two display modes for your forms in Hosted Pages
Conversational: display one question at a time
Regular: display all questions at once
Each of the two form modes can serve a different purpose and use case. You might want to keep the conversational display mode for patients as that mimics a more natural way of communicating, is easier to create a more personal experience, and is more interactive.
On the other hand, you might want to display some longer forms for your clinical personnel in the regular display mode as that makes navigating and validating the form much easier.
Configuring the form display mode
Care flow builders can configure the display mode of a form action in Awell Studio. When adding or configuring a form action, you can press the "Design" tab and there you are able to set the display mode.
The display mode action is set on the action level as this allows you to:
Set a different display mode for a form used in more than one care flows (forms can be shared between care flows)
Set a different display mode for an identical form in your care flow
How to use in an integration context
When you have built a custom implementation on top of Awell and are responsible for rendering your own UI, then you'll have to implement the regular form mode yourself before it will work. The display mode (form_display_mode) is a field that's now available in the payload of all activities of type form (e.g. Get Form) and you can thus use it to add support for rendering your forms in the appropriate display mode. If you need any help with your custom implementation, we are here to help.
Deciding which form display mode to use
When deciding between the conversational and traditional display mode, it's important you consider the form's purpose, use case, and who will be filling in the form.
There are definitely more usability articles you can find on the internet that talk about the pros and cons of conversational and traditional forms, but we listed the most important ones below.
Pros of displaying a form in conversational mode
User engagement: Presenting questions in a conversational manner can make the form feel more interactive and engaging for users. It simulates a conversation, which can be more pleasant and less overwhelming.
Reduced cognitive load: By presenting questions one at a time, users can focus on a single question without being distracted by the entire form.
Contextual guidance: Conversational forms allow for context-aware guidance. Based on previous user responses, subsequent questions can be tailored to provide relevant information or options, leading to a more personalized experience.
Enhanced completion rates: Sequentially guiding users through a form can help prevent abandonment, as it avoids overwhelming users with a long list of questions upfront.
Cons of displaying a form in conversational mode:
Perceived length: Depending on the number of questions, presenting them one at a time may give the impression that the form is longer than it actually is.
Inefficient for experienced users: Users who are familiar with the form or have already provided certain information may find the conversational mode slow and unnecessary.
Loss of overview: In a conversational mode, users might lose the ability to have a comprehensive overview of the form's structure.
Lack of control: Some users may prefer having control over the order in which they answer questions.
Pros of displaying a form in a regular mode
Clear overview: Having all questions on one page gives users a clear overview of the form's structure.
User control: Users can freely navigate between questions, skip ahead, or go back to review and modify their responses. This flexibility empowers users to complete the form at their own pace and convenience.
Efficient for experienced users: Users who are familiar with the form or have previously provided certain information can quickly locate and respond to specific questions without the need for sequential guidance.
Faster completion for some users: Users who prefer to scan through the questions and respond to them in a single effort may find the regular mode faster, as they can fill in the entire form at once.
Cons of displaying a form in a regular mode:
Cognitive overload: Presenting all questions on one page can overwhelm users, especially if the form contains a large number of questions.
Higher abandonment rates: The sight of a long-form with multiple questions can discourage some users, leading to higher abandonment rates.
Lack of context-aware guidance: In a regular mode, it's more challenging to provide context-aware guidance based on previous user responses.