Article published In:
Information Design JournalVol. 28:3 (2023) ► pp.231–274
Testing the effectiveness of a supportive digital information tool for patients recovering from bowel surgery, their surgeons and nurses
Colorectal surgery is a common procedure for bowel cancer, with communication of information playing a key role in patient surgery preparation and recovery. Previous research has shown that surgery e-health tools are effective in many medical contexts. With this in mind, an interactive app was developed using an iterative user-centred design and research process and a multi-methods approach. The aim was to enhance communication between patients and medical staff and empower patients throughout their recovery. Results showed the superiority of a mobile app in communicating information when compared to a printed booklet, and to a tablet app variant.
Keywords: information design, interactive design, information visualization, user-centred design, co-design, performance testing, patient information, healthcare information, bowel cancer, surgery recovery
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 1.1Background
- 1.2Problem identification
- 1.3E-health tool
- 1.4Objectives
- 2.Methodology at a glance
- 3.Design problem and user needs
- 3.1User needs
- 3.1.1Online questionnaire with patients
- 3.1.2Interview with surgeon
- 3.2Design problems
- 3.2.1Literature review
- 3.2.2Visual survey
- 3.2.3Co-design with stakeholders
- 3.2.3.1Co-design: Activity 1
- 3.2.3.2Co-design: Activity 2
- 3.1User needs
- 4.Design development
- 4.1Initial prototype development
- 4.2Iterative process
- 4.2.1Iteration 1 – Usability testing 1 (general public)
- 4.2.2Iteration 2 – Feedback 1 (Information designer and researcher)
- 4.2.3Iteration 3 – Feedback 2 (Digital and interactive designer)
- 4.2.4Iteration 4 – Usability testing 2 (medical stakeholders)
- 4.3Final design output
- 4.4Additional outputs
- 4.5Lessons learned
- 5.Evaluation and validation
- 5.1Participants
- 5.2Quantitative results
- 5.2.1One-way ANOVA results
- 5.3Qualitative results
- 5.3.1Visual evaluation
- 5.3.2Interactive evaluation
- 5.3.3Interview results
- 6.Discussion/Conclusion
- 7.Limitations and future research
-
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