DuPage Dietitians
Nutritional Management for Chronic Disease Care
"In this project, I learnt to manage a team of four designers, ensuring we met milestones and deadlines. Simultaneously creating design assets whilst researching was crucial in meeting our objectives within strict time constraints"
Executive Summary
Our team conducted extensive research, including secondary research and user interviews, to understand the unique challenges faced by our target audience. Insights gathered informed the development of a comprehensive digital application that addresses the specific needs of individuals managing chronic diseases. This case study highlights our approach to designing an application that is not only user-centric but also grounded in real-world evidence and user feedback.
Introduction: Digital Solutions for Chronic Diseases
In an era where chronic diseases affect a significant portion of the population, there's a growing need for innovative healthcare solutions. As the project manager, I led the development of DuPage Dietitian, a digital health application designed to help with healthcare management for patients in minority communities suffering from chronic conditions such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, and asthma. Our mission was to enhance the communication between dietitians and patients, offer personalised diet and meal plans, and provide a platform for users to easily track their nutrition and exercise activities.
Contextual Foundations:
Secondary research revealed that 6 in 10 adults in the US are affected by chronic diseases, with lifestyle risk factors such as poor nutrition and physical inactivity being significant contributors. Moreover, the 2023 Food and Health Survey indicated that rising food costs, social media influence, and sustainability concerns significantly impact Americans' food and health decisions. This background shaped our understanding of the broader context within which our digital health application would operate.
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The Problem
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Our research phase included affinity mapping and user interviews to craft a detailed problem statement. We discovered that individuals dealing with chronic conditions require personalised and flexible solutions that consider their unique health conditions, dietary restrictions, and lifestyle preferences. Communication challenges with healthcare providers and a general lack of motivation for health tracking were also significant barriers.
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The Solution
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Informed by our research findings, the solution was a digital health web application designed to offer:
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Personalised meal and exercise plans
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Simplified health tracking features
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Effective communication channels between patients and dietitians
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A community forum for peer support
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Additional resources tailored to users' health management needs
Design Studio
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Our design studio phase involved rapid sketching and discussion to explore multiple solutions. This collaborative effort led to the creation of mid-fidelity wireframes, focusing on usability and functionality.
Visual Design and Component Library
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We developed a cohesive visual design language and a component library to ensure consistency across the application. This phase solidified the application's look and feel, emphasizing ease of use and accessibility.
Design Features and Problem-Solving Approach
Messaging Center
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Problem Addressed: Users expressed challenges in effectively communicating with healthcare providers and a desire for peer support.
Solution: We integrated a messaging centre within the application, enabling direct communication between patients and their dietitians. This feature also allows users to connect with individuals sharing similar health conditions or backgrounds, promoting a supportive community environment without inducing competition.
Dashboard Design
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Problem Addressed: Users needed motivation and a positive focus on health management progress.
Solution: The dashboard emphasizes positive progress, showcasing metrics like "meals tracked," which focuses on consistency and effort rather than "calories goals." This approach aims to motivate users by highlighting their active participation and progress in managing their health.
Community Page
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Problem Addressed: The need for community support and engagement among users dealing with similar illnesses.
Solution: A dedicated community page was designed to facilitate connections among users with similar health challenges. This space encourages the sharing of experiences and advice, reinforcing a sense of belonging and mutual support.
Meal Input Methods
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Problem Addressed: Users found it challenging to stay motivated and consistent with meal tracking, primarily due to the time-consuming aspect of logging detailed dietary information.
Solution: We implemented three meal input methods:
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Detailed Input
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Feature Recipe Option
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Quick Add
High Fidelity Prototype
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Transitioning to high fidelity prototype allowed us to conduct usability testing with real users. This feedback was crucial in refining the application's design and ensuring it met user expectations.
Conclusion and Next Steps
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The development of the DuPage Dietitians digital health application represents a comprehensive effort to address the complex needs of individuals managing chronic diseases. By integrating insights from secondary research, user interviews, and usability testing, we designed an empathetic solution to the challenges faced by our target audience.
The next steps involve
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Testing the final prototype to ensure the application meets accessibility standards
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Preparing for development handoff
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Adding features like an interpreter for non-English speakers is also planned to enhance accessibility.​​
This case study demonstrates the value of a user-centered design process in creating digital health solutions that truly make a difference in people's lives.