Research shows that patients who are not well informed about medical procedures and treatment experience increased levels of stress and anxiety, which can lead to delayed procedures or lost hospital resources and often results in poorer medical outcomes.
A leading children’s hospital wanted to explore how digital technology could help children familiarize and come to terms with their environment and treatment.
The Challenge
To ensure that the digital solution would meet the needs of its users, our design research specialists worked closely with developers across three rounds of research. Ethnographic research took place in hospitals involving children with serious conditions, families, clinicians and support staff to understand needs and responses to initial design concepts.
Our insights helped to guide the application of AR in a way that was compelling and useful, as well as optimizing features such as chatbot advisors to suit the particular linguistic, cognitive and contextual needs of this audience.
The Outcome
Xploro® – a health information platform that uses AR, gameplay and AI to deliver health information to young patients.
Xploro® helps patients feel empowered, engaged, and informed, whilst having fun at the same time. As well as winning several awards, the app has been proven to:
- Reduce patient anxiety
- Improve patient health literacy
- Lead to better engagement with health services
- Improve clinical outcomes
- Reduce need for sedation
- Reduce in repeat procedures
- Improve overall patient experience
And, while the app was initially designed for children with cancer, the team behind Xploro® are building a health information platform for any age of condition.
Services
Insight & Design Labs, Products and Platforms, AI
Industry
Healthcare
