Improving the digital diagnosis

Human factors could help create better digital health solutions by improving design practices, a new study has shown. A team of experts examined the current design process and interviewed 24 designers to identify 12 challenges and eight common strategies used to tackle them.

Based on the information gathered, the researchers proposed a Digital Health Design (DHD) framework which aims to improve patients’ digital experience. It contains four design phases – preparation, problem-thinking, problem-solving and implementation – and eight different stages throughout the process.

The article, published in the journal Applied Ergonomics, said: “Digital health brings considerable benefits, but it comes with potential risks. Human factors plays a critical role in providing high-quality and acceptable DH solutions.”

It added: “We created a framework including design deliverables, activities, involved stakeholders, design challenges and related design strategies for each design stage.

“The DHD framework not only aids designers in understanding the design practices in the healthcare industry but also guides them when managing the DHD processes and improving the digital patient experience.”

View the framework and read the full article.