Design Thinking in Health Care

Abstract

IntroductionApplying Design Thinking to health care could enhance innovation, efficiency, and effectiveness by increasing focus on patient and provider needs. The objective of this review is to determine how Design Thinking has been used in health care and whether it is effective.MethodsWe searched online databases (PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PyscINFO) for articles published through March 31, 2017, using the terms “health,” “health care,” or “healthcare”; and “Design Thinking,” “design science,” “design approach,” “user centered design,” or “human centered design.” Studies were included if they were written in English, were published in a peer-reviewed journal, provided outcome data on a health-related intervention, and used Design Thinking in intervention development, implementation, or both. Data were collected on target users, health conditions, intervention, Design Thinking approach, study design or sample, and health outcomes. Studies were categorized as being successful (all outcomes improved), having mixed success (at least one outcome improved), or being not successful (no outcomes improved).ResultsTwenty-four studies using Design Thinking were included across 19 physical health conditions, 2 mental health conditions, and 3 systems processes. Twelve were successful, 11 reported mixed success, and one was not successful. All 4 studies comparing Design Thinking interventions to traditional interventions showed greater satisfaction, usability, and effectiveness.ConclusionDesign Thinking is being used in varied health care settings and conditions, although application varies. Design Thinking may result in usable, acceptable, and effective interventions, although there are methodological and quality limitations. More research is needed, including studies to isolate critical components of Design Thinking and compare Design Thinking–based interventions with traditionally developed interventions.

The public’s role in COVID-19 vaccination: Human-centered recommendations to enhance pandemic vaccine awareness, access, and acceptance in the United States

“… Applying Human-Centered Design principles (aka “design thinking”) to the planning and implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination program. User-focused approaches can result in more usable, acceptable, and effective interventions compared with traditional expert-driven methods [32] , [33] . Such an approach has been very successful in promoting HPV vaccination [34] .…”

User‐centered design for technology‐enabled services for eating disorders

“…This approach is applicable both to designing the technologies that comprise a service as well as to designing how the clinical service is delivered and implemented, and other relevant artifacts (although this article focuses on the design of technology). However, user‐centered design has yet to gain widespread traction among clinical scientists in health care (Altman, Huang, & Breland, ). With respect to eating disorders, user‐centered design approaches largely have been ignored.…”

Exploring the feasibility of a network of organizations for pain rehabilitation: what are the lessons learned?

“…However, for further research, it is important to involve HCPs even more in the development of the intervention, which can be executed with Design Thinking. The review of Altman et al (2018) indicates that Design Thinking may result in more usable, acceptable, and effective interventions, compared to traditional expert-driven methods [56]. And they describe Design Thinking as a promising approach for the development, implementation, and transferability of an intervention.…”