Background The decision-making process for clients in need of long-term care is challenging and clients need to make choices about the care they prefer. A tool to assist the clients and caregivers with the decision-making and elicitation on preferences could be beneficial. The aim is to investigate user-requirements of a tool for the decision-making.

Methods We applied a user-centred design to develop this tool. This was an interactive process of collecting data with end-users and improving the prototypes. The end-users included clients, relatives, and caregivers. Four end-users participated in a development team and 22 end-users were interviewed individually. We collected data during three phases of iteration: look and feel, navigation, and content. We analysed the data using thematic analysis and adjusted the prototype after each phase.

Results The lay-out was approved by all participants during the look and feel phase, but there was a need for different/neutral pictures. During the navigation phase, participants experienced easy navigation, but text-blocks had to be shortened. Considering the content, participants missed questions about well-being/happiness. After the third phase, the tool was finalized.

Conclusion The user-centred design was necessary to move from the prototypes to the finalized tool fitting usability-requirements of end-users. The tool ‘What matters to me’ (http://www.watikbelangrijkvind.nl) is currently in the feasibility-testing phase.