Research, research, research!
Welcome back! We are a-CUTE Wounds Warriors, a team from Human-Computer Interaction program in Carnegie Mellon University partnering with University Hospitals of Cleveland to make a difference in wound care.
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Synthesizing Our Kickoff
Following our kickoff meeting, we used affinity diagramming to consolidate our discoveries. One of our biggest takeaways was that our research scope became clearer, with a refined focus on acute wounds, specifically surgical wounds. We also categorized different types of patient behavior and identified pain points in home wound care from the healthcare provider’s viewpoint. Our synthesis of stakeholder maps, collaboratively developed with clients, further illuminated the relationship among key stakeholders in the wound care ecosystem.
Making a Research Plan
As our project progressed, it seemed like every answer we uncovered led to a dozen more questions. We embraced this cascade of curiosity and channeled it into a structured approach to gather more insights.
Our first step was to gather all these questions into one place. Dumping every question swirling in our minds into a Figjam board, we began the process of grouping them into similar themes, with a goal to develop high-level research questions to guide our research process.
Luckily enough, we were given the opportunity to visit the University Hospitals of Cleveland Health Center to dive deeper into patients’ experiences with and possibly get answers to the long list of questions that we had.
In preparation for our site visit, we curated a list of questions tailored for interviews with both patients and nurses, ensuring they resonated with our overarching themes. These questions would form the backbone of our conversations, guiding us through the individual experiences and insights waiting to be uncovered. We also made sure to run pilot tests before the actual interview to identify any potential problems and made iterations based on feedback.
Site Visit
Armed with interview guides, worksheets and above all, our enthusiasm, we headed to Cleveland at on the morning of February 7th.
We mainly conducted three types of research activities. First, we did an AEIOU activity of the patients’ waiting room, which is a method to closely observe the environment, objects, and interactions that happen within the space, and therefore enhance our empathy with patients’ experience beyond what happens in the appointment.
Most importantly, we conducted seven patient interviews and followed up with five of them. To our surprise, almost all patients were very confident in their ability to manage wound care at home and were familiar with techniques to stay comfortable. Many had past experiences with wound care and knew who to contact if they have any issues.
So, what exactly is the problem that we are trying to solve here? Could there be a misalignment in patients’ perceptions about their confidence level and their actual wound care proficiency?
The mock examination session with nurses and doctors let us get a peek into the problem. Here, one of our team members assumed the role of a patient, while the nurses and the doctor recreated the exact experience that a patient would go through after their surgery — dressing their wounds, listening to instructions about wound care at home and receiving a 4-page instruction sheet about what to do.
Call logs that nurses received revealed that many patients, although showing confidence initially, went home only to find themselves wanting reassurance or going to the Emergency Room when they encounter an unexpected situation. The 4-page instruction sheet given to the patients was not an almighty solution to this problem. Now, our job is to delve more into the root causes of this issue.
Walking the Wall
Following our site visit, we convened in our room for an activity known as ‘Walking the Wall,’ putting all the artifacts we had amassed thus far along the wall, then silently walking along and writing down any questions, assumptions, needs, or opportunities. Through this exercise, we not only gleaned insights from our latest findings but also revisited our past discoveries, allowing us to develop a comprehensive understanding of the problem at hand.
Next Steps
Transitioning into Sprint 3, we aim to delve more into clinic-facing barriers by interviewing nurses, conduct desk research on existing technology pertaining to wound care and create models based on our synthesis of findings. Stay tuned for the next update from the a-CUTE Wounds Warriors! #AWW #HealthCareInnovation #SprintRecap
*This project is not intended to contribute to generalizable knowledge and is not human subjects research.
