Enhancing the User Experience of a Perioperative #digital #health Tool for Information Exchange Using a Human-Centered Design Thinking #approach: Qualitative Observational #study
Background: Perioperative #patient-reported outcomes (PROs) allow #patients to share their experiences of #surgical procedures with their #healthcare teams using standardized measures. Despite increasing recognition of their value, PROs are not routinely used in clinical practice, partly due to limited evidence of their impact on traditional clinical outcomes and uncertainty among clinicians about their utility. #digital #health tools offer a promising way to integrate PROs into clinical workflows and enhance #patient-clinician interaction, but their success depends on person-centered design to ensure usability and relevance. Safe #surgery South Africa, a non-profit organization, developed the Perioperative Shared #health Record (PSHR), a secure web-based tool that enables #patients to share personal #health information and PROs with their #anaesthetist and #surgeon before and after #surgery. Initial implementation revealed significant user experience challenges, which contributed to poor uptake. Objective: This #study aimed to explore factors influencing the PSHR user experience in a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) using human-centered design principles. Methods: This observational qualitative user experience #study followed the five design thinking stages: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with #postoperative #patients from both the public and private #healthcare sectors, including those with and without prior experience using the PSHR. Thematic analysis followed the six-phase framework described by Braun and Clarke and was structured using Karagianniโs Optimized Honeycomb user experience model. A problem statement was developed, followed by ideation to explore solutions. Paper prototypes were created, refined, and tested through observation, interviews, and validated usability questionnaires. Results: Empathize: Twenty-two interviews were conducted in the private and public #healthcare sectors in South Africa; seven participants had previous experience using the PSHR. Define: Participants emphasized the need for connection, feedback, information and support through their #surgical journey. Contrary to expectations, #patients were not discouraged by the length of questionnaires if they perceived them as purposeful. Ideate: The team considered user expectations and PSHR integration into care processes. Prototype: Low-fidelity mock-ups were created and refined into paper prototypes. Test: Testing with five participants highlighted the importance of trust, communication, and user-friendly interfaces. Feedback loops and clinician engagement were identified as key motivators for sustained use. The mean usability questionnaire scores indicated excellent usability and high levels of user satisfaction across most domains. Conclusions: This #study is one of the first to #apply human-centered design principles to a perioperative #digital #health tool in an LMIC setting, addressing usability challenges and #patient engagement. Key user experience factors influencing #patient engagement included communication, feedback, and access to information throughout the #surgical journey. #digital #health tools like the PSHR can strengthen communication and support person-centered perioperative care by integrating PROs into clinical workflows and care processes.