The Problem

A pandemic causes many difficulties for many people, because of this they have to distance themselves from loved ones and self isolate. This can lead to people developing depression due to the mandatory isolation and not feeling connected to those who matter most in a time of need.

We wanted to created a product that will positively impact patients and will prevent depression, which can harm the recovery process.

Designing During a Pandemic: Conceptualizing Improvement in The Lived Experience of Cancer Patients with Leukemia 

Our Solution 

Our final product is a Hug Medical ID Wristband, that brings warmth and comfort when users are separated from their families and caregivers. Through this product we are trying to break down the walls of isolation between caregivers and patients by making feel connected, even at a distance. In addition, the bracelet can also provides both wearers with each others heartbeat, which can be felt through the bracelet. This feature is meant to emulate a hug through feedback and warmth. All this technology will be connected to and complimentary app we have designed. Which provides the caregiver with real time updates of the patient's condition and progress in treatment.

Design: I drew initial concept drawings, constructed final presntation, and designed final 3D mockup based on feedback from group. 

 Research: I helped conduct brainstorm sessions with the group and and analyzed interview and secondary research results.

Leukemia is a type of cancer of the blood cells. First emerging in the body's bone marrow where stem cells are grown, stem cells are undesignated cells waiting to be assigned jobs.  Leukemia is the overproduction of these cells, causing them to mutate and have an abnormality that stunts them. The body is unable to make working cells and is overcrowded with cancer cells.

A body that isn't at work is a body at risk of immune and respiratory infections. Meaning the body can no longer fight off these infections slowly killing the host.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread globally since being identified. Hospitals have been overwhelmed and have had to make fast adaptations to procedures to try and combat COVID-19’s rapid human‐to‐human transmission. Leukemia Cancer patients frequently visit hospitals for Chemo treatment and disease surveillance. These individuals are immunocompromised due to their illness and anticancer therapy, making them extremely high risk for development of COVID-19. Because of this there has been an influx of caregiver and patient anxiety, as well as more need for patient isolation and testing leading to feelings of depression and fear. The systems in place are not well adapted to cancer and caregiver depression as well as anxiety brought on by COVID. This is an opportunity to rethink how we deal with Cancer medical isolation as well as re-evaluate the dynamic relationship between caregivers and themselves.

Research Methods Used: 

SECONDARY 

• 16 Envermental Scans
• 25 Literature Reviews 
  
• 3 Market Scans 

PRAMARY 

• 20 Nethographic 
• 1 Semi Structured Interview  

1. Caregivers are motivated by feeling useful

2. Not being able to be around loved ones can lead to grief during isolation

3. Uncertainty of the future

4. COVID-19 and the effects on hospital organization leading to stress and anxiety

5. Importance of support systems in caring for patients

6. The cancer experience can have positive aspects

Design Opportunity

From the insights gathered and extensive research collected, me and my group where able to create these (3) initial designs to tackle the problem space:    

From the feedback given the group was able to come to this conclusion: 

We had sketched out append designs for caregivers relating to burnout and app designs related to motivating leukemia patients to exercise and be healthy, all ideas revolved around the main theme of mental wellness and helping to combat depression. 

Our group had decided that this concept of how we could emulate the feeling of a hug and the caregiver burnout app were two very strong ideas and had a lot of research to help support these as valuable solutions. So from that we devised a method of merging these two ideas into a product+app solution working for both the caregiver and cancer patient. As from our research we have discovered that these two users share connected pain points as well. In our case by helping one user you subsequently help the other user. As both users in our case exist in symbiosis they are dependent on each other's existence. 

1. What material do you feel would be most comfortable?

2. How large of a band would you want on your wrist?

3. What type of strap fastener would be most useful for the patient?

4. Should this be available to both the patient and the caregiver?

5. Could it come in different colours?

6. How heavy would it be?

7. Could you mimic someone's heartbeat and hug?

8. Would scents really be the best for a medical situation?