My WeekInSight: Data Visualization for Teens with Chronic Pain
Understanding the challenges of diverse and medically complex users
Problem Statement: The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated challenges for pediatric chronic pain patients, leading to increased isolation and a pressing need for remote treatment options. The clinical team sought an intervention to empower patients, allowing them to take an active role in their treatment from home.
Our solution: We introduced a data visualization dashboard designed for teens to engage with their health data, fostering self-awareness of symptom triggers and encouraging proactive health management. Our approach aimed to enable teens to advocate for themselves effectively in healthcare contexts.
Image by Unma Desai
Design Process: Leveraging clinical insights and data visualization expertise, we crafted a tool to accurately reflect the diverse and complex health experiences of teens with chronic pain. Through iterative prototyping of dashboards which included bar charts, heat maps imposed on a calendar-based layout, we sought to present data in an accessible and comprehensible manner.
User Engagement: We focused on teenagers aged 12-19, with varied graphic literacy and experiences with health informatics. Preliminary evaluations involved semi-structured interviews and surveys, emphasizing cognitive accessibility and emotional sensitivity. Feedback highlighted a desire for customization and clearer emotional and mood visualizations.
Challenges and Insights: The project faced obstacles, including technical bugs which caused a lack of study compliance from our participants, leading to inconclusive study results. Moreover, the highly individualized nature of chronic pain posed a significant challenge in creating a universally relevant visualization tool. This variability in symptoms made it difficult to design an interface that resonated with every participant, resulting in decreased engagement among those who felt their experiences were not fully captured by the tool. Reflections on the project underscore the importance of visibility, simplicity, and personal relevance in digital health tools. Despite these challenges, interviews indicated that regular interaction with the dashboard promoted long-term engagement and health insight among participants.
Prototypes developed alongside Unma Desai, Tamara Munzner, and Karon MacLean.
Conclusion: "My Week In Sight" underscores the critical role of user-centered design in developing effective digital health interventions. The project's challenges have informed valuable lessons on accommodating the unique needs of a diverse user base, emphasizing the potential of data visualization as a tool for self-management in pediatric chronic pain.