Elevating Lived Experiences: Collectively Shaping the Future of Healthcare
Loading...
Date
2024-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Ohio State University. Department of Design
Abstract
The pandemic and the emergence of Long Covid symptoms have highlighted the critical importance of patient involvement and participation in healthcare. Individuals living with Long Covid, researchers, and healthcare providers have come together to understand the condition and address its challenges, which is uncommon in the traditionally hierarchical healthcare system. Despite these efforts, many voices and concerns remain unheard, revealing gaps in data, research pathways, empathy, and understanding. This isolation has driven some patients to seek a more active role in the healthcare setting.
Learning from the stories and experiences of people living with Long Covid and extending it to Diabetes, this research aims to make these voices and stories more visible to the healthcare mainstream. By amplifying patients' voices and needs, the project seeks to foster collaboration among the researchers, patients, and providers silos in healthcare, enabling a better mutual understanding and ultimately creating a more equitable healthcare future.
The study explores the integration of exploratory design research methods within a healthcare system that is currently focused on evidence-based research. By concentrating on the conditions of Diabetes and Long Covid, the research involves three key groups: patients, providers, and researchers. These groups represent the main silos in healthcare, whose collaboration could lead to improved patient outcomes and experiences. In-depth interviews were conducted to understand their current participation and collaboration efforts within the existing healthcare system.
Based on the analysis of these interviews, a provocative potential solution, or 'provotype,' was designed to create a deeper understanding of the different groups' needs and behaviors. A series of surveys was conducted to gather feedback and initiate a dialogue in this space, leading to conclusions and future steps based on this feedback.
One of the main findings is the creation of a card deck for design researchers working in healthcare, sharing the author's experiences and offering tips, recommendations, principles, and mindsets. Other findings emphasize the significance of combining exploratory design research with evidence-based research as complementary approaches in healthcare delivery and research. These findings highlight the gap between people's lived experiences and the care they receive, questioning the existing system's ability to meet their needs. The study showcases the potential of individuals living with chronic conditions to imagine diverse and impactful solutions beyond what currently exists.
The conclusions drawn from this study call for further investigation into the potential of exploratory design research alongside evidence-based research. They underscore the benefits and value that lived experiences can add to improving service experiences and research quality within the healthcare system.
Description
Thesis project website
Keywords
patient-centered design, Long Covid, Diabetes, Collaboration and participation in Healthcare, Exploratory Design Research, Lived Experiences