About the Project
The task. In the context of empowering patients to have a central role in managing their health, this self-directed project aims to explore the benefits of a swallowing exercises rehabilitation app in the care of head and neck cancer patients. Additionally, what considerations should be taken when designing patient-centric health apps for older adults?
The task. In the context of empowering patients to have a central role in managing their health, this self-directed project aims to explore the benefits of a swallowing exercises rehabilitation app in the care of head and neck cancer patients. Additionally, what considerations should be taken when designing patient-centric health apps for older adults?
Lean UX Methodology
In the initial phase, the four assumptions around organisation outcomes, users, user outcomes and features were explored, in collaboration with a speech and language therapist and by using a patient questionnaire.
Initial App Features and Task Categories Identified:
The assumptions were then used to write the hypothesis statement:
We believe better patient empowerment and care will be achieved if head and neck cancer patients successfully access their exercises and feel more in control of their health and recovery, by using the swallowing app.
We believe better patient empowerment and care will be achieved if head and neck cancer patients successfully access their exercises and feel more in control of their health and recovery, by using the swallowing app.
From the list of features, a basic map of the linked sections/screens was created.
The map was used to create the app wireframes and a simple lo-fi clickable prototype in Adobe XD. This was tested with the multi-disciplinary healthcare team to progress iterations of the app.
User Testing
Following testing of the clickable lo-fi prototype by the healthcare team, the first high fidelity prototype was created in Adobe XD as a minimum viable product for patient user testing.
As head and neck cancer patients are principally older adults, the accessibility of the app for seniors was imperative. User testing, carried out with patients who had completed their treatment, prompted modifications to be made to the final prototype.
