Why is it so important to consider dignity during technology
development?
The development of technology to assist or simplify medical
diagnoses, treatment and management can provide the opportunity to greatly
improve patient experiences and medical outcomes. However, addressing only the patient’s
clinical needs in isolation misses the opportunity to achieve genuinely
effective solutions. For patients, their ability to live with dignity can have
a big impact on their health and happiness. Truly effective and enduring
technologies should therefore be developed with users, and should consider how,
where and when they will use the technology; if a user dislikes using a
technology, they are less likely to use it. An example of a technology that D4D
is developing in partnership with patients and other collaborators is the
Sheffield Support Snood collar for people with neck muscle weakness. The collar
has been designed to be more wearable and adaptable than other support collars,
and is currently undergoing a clinical evaluation.
“Other, more rigid collars were painful – I couldn’t
wear them for too long, I can wear this collar for 8 hours straight – I
wear it at work” -Anonymous patient participant comment in clinical study of
new collar design
“This collar gives
support but also more freedom of movement – I can wear it to drive”- Anonymous
patient participant comment in the clinical study of the new collar design
By developing technologies around users’ wider needs rather than
just patients’ clinical needs, and by taking into account the needs of everyone
involved in a project from early stages, projects can be designed well, and all
partners can benefit.
·
Patients can experience fewer disruptions and
exert greater control over their lives, which is likely to lead to greater
satisfaction and adherence to their treatment, and better wellbeing.
·
Healthcare professionals are also users of
technologies with their patients, so clinical input into device design can help
ensure that technology adoption challenges are anticipated early in the
development process and can be addressed in the context of existing practices,
training and systems.
·
Technology companies can develop solutions
that are likely to be better received by the patients and clinicians using
them.
The resulting well-designed technologies are more beneficial to
patients and users, so may benefit from patient- and clinical ‘pull’, which
helps ensure the solution is widely sought, can help drive faster widespread
adoption, and helps the company to establish itself more effectively within the
health market place.
For this reason D4D works closely with and values the involvement
of patients and carers, clinicians, researchers, designers, charities and
industry partners when developing technology solutions.
By building such partnerships we can ensure that the solutions that we develop
maintain or promote people’s dignity - and by extension their wellbeing - at
the same time as addressing their clinical needs.
Partners
in the development of the Sheffield Support Snood are the Sheffield Institute
for Translational Neuroscience (SITRaN) at the University of Sheffield,
Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS FT, Barnsley NHS
FT and the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).
The
event was run in partnership with information design agency Signal Noise, and
addressed the theme of design and diversity – more specifically, how might we
diversify audiences, experiences and accessibility by using data and design in
open and inclusive ways. Katherine discussed the importance of co-production with
end users to the success of assistive technology projects, with Stephen presenting
ways in which data and design processes can mislead and exclude the very people
we try to assist. The other speakers talked about designing adapted musical
instruments, inclusive musical theatre and composition, and wider issues of
data privacy and data inequality. All in all, a fascinating evening that
provided insights into the practices and concerns of communities beyond the
usual reach of CATCH public engagement exercises.
