HealingHand Tech
Maintaining stroke patient progress and compliance
Overview
Problem
Through in-depth research, we found that occupational therapists face the most challenge in stroke patient compliance and progress due to lack of motivators on both sides, instead of assigning programs.
Solution
Reframing the problem, we incorporate reflections of patient's real-time progress with the wearable usage and a streamlined exercise program assignment and monitoring process.
Research
Identifying problem risk and clarity
Our team narrowed the scope to core feature first --- program building for MVP. We identified risks and clarity of the problem and concluded that we needed research, starting from understanding the problem from both business side and user side, leading to preliminary research and in-depth interviews with OTs.
2 Rounds Research
We conducted research from high level understanding to specific learning:
Low or unknown patient compliance is the most difficult aspect of stroke programs, to our surprise --- we assumed assigning appropriate and helpful program was the most difficult part, but keeping track is the most difficult and demotivating for both patients and therapists.
Finding Synthesis -> Insights
Fatigue in Treatment
Fatigue, frustration, and pain are inevitable. Therapists will adjust the treatment plan based on patients’ feelings and measurements.
Patient Compliance & Progress
Measuring patient compliance is important in showing improved patient outcome and a motivating factor for therapists.
Outcome Measurements
Keeping track of patients’ biomechanical data (range of motion, strength, accuracy) in relations to wearable device enables therapists to see real-time progress
Problem Reframing
Ideation
Design Concepts & Features
Design
Features Wireframing
Design System
To ensure we accommodate users of various abilities, we utilized Google's Materials Design for colors, grid, and space and designed for dark and light mode. We crafted a universal set of buttons and icons to maintain a sense of consistency.
High Fidelity
Patient Overview
Patient information
Present basic patient and treatment information that therapists need to assess conditions and assign programs.
Weekly Compliance
Shows if patients perform the exercise on a daily and weekly basis and the percentage to which they successfully perform motions
AROM Progress
ConVisualize Active Range of Motion of patients in 6 parts of upper limb by presenting initial and current progress in colored hexagons
Check-in
Exercise Programs: A/B for Two Flows
We found that there is a conventional mode of therapist work flow - specifying a motion that the therapist wants the patients to work on and expand into combined motion and a longterm goal, matching with the therapist's cognitive model.
Therapists have also indicated that a more goal-oriented approach might benefit the assignment process and help with goal-tracking.
We designed two exercise program building flows: A for motion-oriented, and B for goal-oriented for A/B testing to gage user's reactions.
MVP Usability Testing
To evaluate the overall usability of task flows, we conducted moderated usability testings with two sections: guided Figma prototype click-through test divided into A and B version, and card sorting for alert contents.
After synthesizing the insights from the testings, we incorporated a few iterations. Since we found positive reviews on some parts of A and B flows, such as A's overall easiness on navigation and B's visualization of the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), we combined them.
Results
We conducted a total of 5 usability testing and received the following positive feedback:
💬 "It's easy to navigate, which is hard to do for a patient's program."
💬 " I feel that it gives more control to follow up with my patient."
We received a 90% average user validation throughout testing and a 75% improved understanding of wearable device usage.
@2024 by Cindy Chang