Short answer
Designers should prioritize understanding the entire ecosystem of a health technology, including all stakeholders and the context of use, from the initial stages of a design project.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering (2023)
- Method
- Literature Review and Framework Analysis
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Designing health technologies requires a move beyond the device itself to encompass the needs of all stakeholders and the broader context of use. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering. Using Literature review and framework analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers should prioritize understanding the entire ecosystem of a health technology, including all stakeholders and the context of use, from the initial stages of a design project.
Holistic Stakeholder Analysis Enhances Health Technology Adoption
Designing health technologies requires a move beyond the device itself to encompass the needs of all stakeholders and the broader context of use.
Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering · 2023
Key Findings
- 01A technocentric design approach creates translational gaps in health technology.
- 02Incorporating diverse stakeholder needs and contextual understanding early in design is crucial for equitable adoption.
- 03Existing frameworks can guide human- and equity-centered design processes.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers should prioritize understanding the entire ecosystem of a health technology, including all stakeholders and the context of use, from the initial stages of a design project.
How to apply
Before finalizing a design, map out all potential users, caregivers, administrators, regulators, and community members, and investigate how the technology will fit into their existing workflows and environments.
Project actions
- 01When starting a design project, list everyone who might interact with or be affected by your design.
- 02Spend time observing and talking to people in the environment where your design will be used.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a comprehensive overview of human- and equity-centered approaches.
- +Offers practical guidance through case studies.
Limitations
It can be challenging to identify and access all relevant stakeholders, and their needs may sometimes conflict.
Reliability & validity
The review's findings are based on synthesizing existing literature and case studies, suggesting strong external validity within the health technology domain. Reliability is enhanced by the systematic review process.
Think critically
How can designers ethically navigate conflicting stakeholder needs when designing for complex systems?
Design Principles
"Design for adoption by considering the complete user and environmental ecosystem."
This approach ensures that innovations are not only functional but also equitable and readily adopted by the intended communities. By considering the entire ecosystem surrounding a technology, designers can proactively address potential barriers and foster greater success.
What This Means for Your Design
To make health gadgets work well for everyone, don't just think about the person using it. Think about all the people involved and where it will be used.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the importance of user research and stakeholder analysis in your design project's introduction or rationale.
- 2.Refer to this paper when discussing the need to consider broader impacts beyond the primary user in your design development.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
A human- and equity-centered design approach, as highlighted by Rodriguez et al. (2023), is crucial for the successful adoption of health technologies. This involves moving beyond a technocentric view to a holistic understanding of broader stakeholder needs and the intended context of use, thereby bridging translational gaps and ensuring equitable access and impact.
Source
Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering
Thinking Beyond the Device: An Overview of Human- and Equity-Centered Approaches for Health Technology Design
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about holistic stakeholder analysis enhances health technology adoption?
- Designers should prioritize understanding the entire ecosystem of a health technology, including all stakeholders and the context of use, from the initial stages of a design project. Evidence: Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering (2023).
- Why does "Holistic Stakeholder Analysis Enhances Health Technology Adoption" matter for design?
- This approach ensures that innovations are not only functional but also equitable and readily adopted by the intended communities. By considering the entire ecosystem surrounding a technology, designers can proactively address potential barriers and foster greater success.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers should prioritize understanding the entire ecosystem of a health technology, including all stakeholders and the context of use, from the initial stages of a design project.
- What were the main findings?
- A technocentric design approach creates translational gaps in health technology.. Incorporating diverse stakeholder needs and contextual understanding early in design is crucial for equitable adoption.. Existing frameworks can guide human- and equity-centered design processes.
- What research method was used?
- Literature Review and Framework Analysis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- Before finalizing a design, map out all potential users, caregivers, administrators, regulators, and community members, and investigate how the technology will fit into their existing workflows and environments.
- What are the limitations?
- The review focuses on health technology, and the applicability to other domains may vary. Specific frameworks may require adaptation for different contexts.