MSc Healthcare & Design

Imperial College London & Royal College of Art

Research Project

This research was completed for the 2-year MSc Programme in Healthcare & Design at Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art.

Summary

Taking medications as prescribed is vital for managing chronic conditions, treating temporary illnesses and improving overall health outcomes. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of patients fail to take their medications according to their prescribed regimens.

This study aims to adopt a design thinking approach to understand patients' medication compliance issues and generate actionable insights to improve health outcomes.

Through a combination of primary and secondary research, we sought to understand the shared behaviours and challenges that patients with poor medication compliance face. By acknowledging our target audience and their needs, we uncovered recurrent themes that had to be addressed to develop an effective solution.

A proposed design concept was selected and developed into a functioning prototype following a brainstorming and ideation process. The development process was part of an iterative cycle with continuous usability and desirability testing alongside end-user participation through co-design workshops and interviews.

This research provides insight into the behaviours and patterns that patients with medication non-compliance exhibit. The application of a design thinking approach demonstrates its effectiveness in delivering a user-centred product. The author hopes that this study's insights and results will prompt future research and development in this area and promote the use of design thinking in more healthcare challenges in the future.

Additional Projects

Design and Innovation

Utilising a design led approach to tackle improving accessibility for patients with macular degeneration.

Design Led Innovation in Healthcare

Development and analysis of a wicked problem in the evolution of healthcare records.

Designing for Behavioural Change

Application of psychological theory of behaviour change in the development and prototyping of a healthcare intervention to improve posture during video calls.