Exploring the role of design thinking in improving patient adherence to self-administered treatment technology

Poor treatment adherence is an increasing challenge for healthcare, especially for chronic diseases and patient-administered treatments. This research has investigated how design thinking can improve adherence in self-administered treatment technology. The study has three main objectives. The first is to investigate the current state of adherence and its involvement in the design process. For this objective, literature about adherence theoretical frameworks, design thinking, and medical technology was reviewed. Also, in five SME case studies, interviews provided evidence of consideration of adherence during the design process. The second objective was to explore consideration of adherence at an early stage of a design process. Postgraduate students on an MA Design project were observed while applying design thinking processes to develop a medical solution. The third objective was to assess a framework though an eDelphi study that built consensus from panellists on adherence factors that influence patient adherence to a treatment technology regimen, and the importance of each factor. A number of gaps were identified after addressing the first objective: 1) a lack of an adherence framework that considers the nature of self-administered treatment technology products, 2) There is a lack of a practical mechanism to consider adherence factors during the design and development of medical treatment technology, and 3) There is a need for a resource that can guide and help companies to consider adherence factors during the design process. Based on the research findings, the study claims two contributions to knowledge: an adherence framework that identifies factors that affect patient-administered technology treatment adherence and their level of importance, and a design-focused adherence canvas, based on the adherence framework (1st claim), which is a practical resource that record how adherence factors are being consideration and their level of importance

Designing the 3D‐Printed prosthetic hand

Opening the first-ever Icograda conference in 1964, Britain’s Prince Philip noted, “Every day, designers of all kinds are becoming responsible for a greater proportion of the human environment. Almost everything we see and use that was not made by the Almighty has come from some designer’s drawing board.” Case in point: 3D printing. It’s taking rapid prototyping to another level and igniting hope for many product designers working with a smallscale budget, production line, process, and team. All one needs is a 3D printer and CAD software that helps to create the computer 3D model before it is sent to the printer. Although there are still barriers to implementing this technology on a larger scale, many researchers have been motivated to explore its use in a variety of disciplines. One initiative is to design prosthetic devices that enable individuals with disabilities to live their lives with less effort and pain. Design is contributing to this project through a holistic approach that involves design thinking, as well as innovations in the development process and materials used

Quick Guide to Flash Catalyst

How do you transform user interface designs created in Photoshop or Illustrator into interactive web pages? It's easier than you think. This guide shows you how to use Adobe Flash Catalyst to create interactive UIs and website wireframes for Rich Internet Applications-without writing a single line of code. Ideal for web designers, this book introduces Flash Catalyst basics with detailed step-by-step instructions and screenshots that illustrate every part of the process. You'll learn hands-on how to turn your static design or artwork into working user interfaces that can be implemented in Fl

Barriers Facing Design and Creativity in Middle East SMEs

Education, knowledge and experience, helpful banking systems, and above all, an understanding of design's role in business strategy and competitive advantage—all these will play a role in making life better for designers and design‐aware SMEs and, in turn, the economies of the countries of the Middle East. Can design help small and medium‐sized businesses weather the economic and political upheavals in the Middle East? But first—can the design industry there be helped

Developing professional iPhone photography: using Photoshop, Lightroom, and other iOS and desktop apps to create and edit photos

Developing Professional iPhone Photography provides a practical guide to creating a professional photography portfolio with your iPhone and features iPhonoegraphy examples from professional photographers to showcase what can be done. You can then share your workflow with your desktop programs, such as Adobe Photoshop Mix, Photoshop Fix, and Lightroom apps iPhone camera and photography capabilities have dramatically improved to a professional level and mobile and desktop software have come right along with them. Now it’s not only possible to take worthwhile photos on your phone but also to edit and develop them to a professional level