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Design Thinking in Health Care

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Altman, Myra, Huang, Terry T.K., Breland, Jessica Y.·2018·Preventing Chronic Disease
DOI 10.5888/pcd15.180128PMC PMC6178900
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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Applying Design Thinking to health care could enhance innovation, efficiency, and effectiveness by increasing focus on patient and provider needs. The objective of this review is to determine how Design Thinking has been used in health care and whether it is effective. METHODS: We searched online databases (PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PyscINFO) for articles published through March 31, 2017, using the terms "health," "health care," or "healthcare"; and "Design Thinking," "design science," "design approach," "user centered design," or "human centered design." Studies were included if they were written in English, were published in a peer-reviewed journal, provided outcome data on a health-related intervention, and used Design Thinking in intervention development, implementation, or both. Data were collected on target users, health conditions, intervention, Design Thinking approach, study design or sample, and health outcomes. Studies were categorized as being successful (all outcomes improved), having mixed success (at least one outcome improved), or being not successful (no outcomes improved). RESULTS: Twenty-four studies using Design Thinking were included across 19 physical health conditions, 2 mental health conditions, and 3 systems processes. Twelve were successful, 11 reported mixed success, and one was not successful. All 4 studies comparing Design Thinking interventions to traditional interventions showed greater satisfaction, usability, and effectiveness. CONCLUSION: Design Thinking is being used in varied health care settings and conditions, although application varies. Design Thinking may result in usable, acceptable, and effective interventions, although there are methodological and quality limitations. More research is needed, including studies to isolate critical components of Design Thinking and compare Design Thinking-based interventions with traditionally developed interventions.

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  • The use of design thinking as a design approach in healthcare has challenges, namely consolidating the needs of end-users, healthcare providers, and researchers; variations in approaches taken by designers and researchers; and lack of evidence from studies that include design thinking as a methodology.

    “The use of DT as a design approach in healthcare has challenges, namely: consolidating the needs of end-users, healthcare providers, and researchers; the variations in the approaches taken by designers and researchers; and the lack of evidence from studies that include DT as a methodology [25].”

    From A user-centred design framework for mHealth (2020) · cites this paper as [25]

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Authors
Altman, M., Huang, T. T. K., & Breland, J. Y.
Affiliations
  • Washington University in St. Louis (US)
  • City University of New York (US)
  • VA Palo Alto Health Care System (US)
Corresponding author
Altman, Myra
ORCID
Venue
Preventing Chronic Disease
Publisher
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Preventing Chronic Disease
Published
2018-09-27
Volume
15
Pages
E117-E117
ISSN
1545-1151 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.5888/pcd15.180128
PMC
PMC6178900
OpenAlex
W2891939011
Cited by
548
References
5
Citations by year
2026: 58 · 2025: 94 · 2024: 94 · 2023: 77 · 2022: 87 · 2021: 78 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 2
FWCI
4.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
public-domain
Locations
  • Preventing Chronic Disease (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Digital Commons@Becker (Washington University School of Medicine) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (IK2 HX002125)
  • Health Services Research and Development
  • Washington University in St. Louis
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Design Education and Practice
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Management of Technology and Innovation › Innovative Approaches in Technology and Social Development
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Innovative Human-Technology Interaction
Keywords
design thinking, healthcare innovation, user-centered design, human-centered design, intervention development, health outcomes, usability, patient satisfaction, mental health, physical health
MeSH terms
Delivery of Health Care, Humans, Research Design, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

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