Short answer

Shift from expert-defined metrics to co-created outcomes that reflect the real-world priorities and quality-of-life impacts for end-users.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: Periodontology 2000 (2023)
Method: Co-created review and analysis of existing research.
Evidence: Strong effect

Incorporating patient perspectives into the definition of success for health interventions leads to outcomes that are more meaningful and actionable for individuals managing long-term conditions. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Periodontology 2000. Using Co-created review and analysis of existing research., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Shift from expert-defined metrics to co-created outcomes that reflect the real-world priorities and quality-of-life impacts for end-users.

Study

User-Centred DesignRecentStrong effect

Patient-Reported Outcomes Significantly Enhance Design Relevance in Health Interventions

Incorporating patient perspectives into the definition of success for health interventions leads to outcomes that are more meaningful and actionable for individuals managing long-term conditions.

Periodontology 2000 · 2023

Key Findings

01Most health research outcomes are defined by professional experts and may not align with the lived experiences and priorities of patients.
02Involving People with Lived Experience (PWLE) in defining research outcomes is crucial for developing high-quality, relevant evidence, especially for chronic conditions.
03Co-created outcomes can empower PWLE to make better healthcare choices and enhance their capacity to manage their conditions.

Application

Design takeaway

Shift from expert-defined metrics to co-created outcomes that reflect the real-world priorities and quality-of-life impacts for end-users.

How to apply

When designing a health app, instead of just measuring user engagement time, co-define success with users to include metrics like 'feeling more in control of my condition' or 'reduced anxiety about my health'.

Project actions

01When defining the success of your design project, don't just think about technical specs. Interview potential users and ask them what would make your design truly valuable to them.
02Consider how your design impacts the user's quality of life, not just its functionality.

Method & Evidence

AimTo what extent do patient-reported outcomes (PROs) strengthen the relevance of research and design for individuals managing long-term health conditions?

MethodCo-created review and analysis of existing research.

ProcedureThe researchers reviewed existing literature on periodontal therapy outcomes, assessing the extent to which patients and carers (People with Lived Experience - PWLE) were involved in defining these outcomes and the representativeness of the PWLE recruited for studies. They analyzed what is known about the relevance of treatment outcomes to PWLE and how involving them could enhance their self-management capacity.

ContextHealthcare interventions, specifically periodontal therapy, but applicable to any long-term health management product or service.

Variables

IVInvolvement of People with Lived Experience (PWLE) in outcome definition.

DVRelevance and meaningfulness of research/design outcomes to end-users.

CVType of health condition, existing research methodologies.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Highlights the importance of patient-centred research in healthcare.
+Provides a framework for improving the relevance of design outcomes.

Limitations

The findings are specific to health contexts and may need adaptation for other design fields. Ensuring diverse user representation can be challenging.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of the review depends on the quality and consistency of the studies analyzed. Validity is strengthened by the co-creation approach, aiming to capture a more holistic understanding of outcome relevance.

Think critically

How can designers ensure that the 'voice' of the user is genuinely heard and integrated, rather than being a tokenistic addition to the design process?

Design Principles

"Prioritize patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and involve end-users in defining success criteria for health-related design projects."

This research highlights a critical gap in many design projects: the disconnect between expert-defined success metrics and what truly matters to end-users. By co-creating outcomes with the people who will use a product or service, designers can ensure their solutions address real-world needs and improve quality of life, rather than just technical performance.

What This Means for Your Design

When designing something for people, especially for health, it's super important to ask them what 'success' looks like to them, not just what the experts think is important. This makes the design much more helpful for real people.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of user research and how to define meaningful success criteria for your design project, particularly if it addresses health or long-term user engagement.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research underscores the critical need for user-centred design, particularly in health-related fields. By involving 'People with Lived Experience' (PWLE) in defining project outcomes, designers can ensure that their solutions address genuine user priorities and enhance quality of life, moving beyond expert-defined metrics to create truly relevant and impactful designs.

Source

Periodontology 2000

Outcomes of periodontal therapy: Strengthening the relevance of research to patients. A co‐created review

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about patient-reported outcomes significantly enhance design relevance in health interventions?: Shift from expert-defined metrics to co-created outcomes that reflect the real-world priorities and quality-of-life impacts for end-users. Evidence: Periodontology 2000 (2023).
Why does "Patient-Reported Outcomes Significantly Enhance Design Relevance in Health Interventions" matter for design?: This research highlights a critical gap in many design projects: the disconnect between expert-defined success metrics and what truly matters to end-users. By co-creating outcomes with the people who will use a product or service, designers can ensure their solutions address real-world needs and improve quality of life, rather than just technical performance.
How can designers apply this research?: Shift from expert-defined metrics to co-created outcomes that reflect the real-world priorities and quality-of-life impacts for end-users.
What were the main findings?: Most health research outcomes are defined by professional experts and may not align with the lived experiences and priorities of patients.. Involving People with Lived Experience (PWLE) in defining research outcomes is crucial for developing high-quality, relevant evidence, especially for chronic conditions.. Co-created outcomes can empower PWLE to make better healthcare choices and enhance their capacity to manage their conditions.
What research method was used?: Co-created review and analysis of existing research..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from Periodontology 2000.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing a health app, instead of just measuring user engagement time, co-define success with users to include metrics like 'feeling more in control of my condition' or 'reduced anxiety about my health'.
What are the limitations?: The review focused on periodontal therapy, and the direct applicability to other domains may vary. The representativeness of PWLE in the reviewed studies was also a concern.