EpiAssist
Exploring User Experience Research for an Epilepsy App
Problem Statement
Epilepsy is a condition that affects 50 million people world wide, making it one of the most common health conditions. Many of these people use multiple apps and methods for managing their condition. However, often apps for epilepsy only focus on select parts of managing the condition instead of offering a complete solution for all parts of epilepsy management.
Phase 1
Discovery
Identifying Data Collection Opportunities
Prior to starting the design process of Epiassist, I needed to obtain some quantitative and quantitative data.
However, before I could take action, there were some considerations I needed to take into account:
The first consideration was surrounding the changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore, the methods I could use for collecting some of the data were restricted.
Second, the pool of individuals with epilepsy who are willing to participate is small. Additionally, finding epilepsy patients is an immense undertaking due to laws surrounding the disclosure of patient information for the sake of privacy.
Lastly, I had to choose affordable means of collecting data for research, which meant sticking to a budget.
Thus, as the researcher for this project, It was conducive to the project to address these three issues before any research or designing could take place.
Ultimately, I decided on the following solutions for the needs of the project:
To circumvent the issues prompted by covid, and to keep other safe, I would take advantage of the internet.
As for locating populations and pools of individuals with epilepsy, I would use Facebook Groups and by connecting with the Epilepsy Foundation of Utah.
The surveys would be conducted using Google Forms, and interviews using the popular conference software Zoom due to their budget friendly software.
Methods for Data Collection
Surveys
User Interviews
Method 1: Survey
Survey Data
You may download the excel file of the survey data.
Survey Questions
Screener Questions
Below are the following screener questions used:
Screener Question 1
"Have you used an app for your epilepsy needs?"
Screener Question 2
Would you be interested in using an app for your epilepsy needs?"
Discovery Questions
Below are the following questions I included in my survey:
1. "What is your age?"
2. "What is your gender?"
3. "How many mobile apps do you use for managing your epilepsy condition?"
4. "How often do you use the epilepsy app(s) a week?"
5. "Select the following features below that you find the most valuable in an epilepsy app?"
6. "How satisfied are you with the epilepsy app(s) you currently use"
7. "What type of mobile device do you prefer to use for your epilepsy app(s)?"
Survey Results
Total Responses: 154
Qualifying Responses: 50
Services Used: SurveyMonkey and Google
Length: 14 days
Screener Questions
The screener was put into effect to filter out and sort useful responses from the rest. However, even unqualified responses hold value.
The screener contained two questions. The first question inquiring about the participant's experience was mandatory for a successful submission. Whereas, the second, measuring interest in an epilepsy app, was optional.
Out of the 154 responses, a little more than two-thirds of participants surveyed showed to have no experience using health apps. This reveals there is a gap in the marketplace that has yet to be filled, whether that be awareness or users' health needs aren't being met.
The data shows that there is nearly equal interest in either trying (46%) or anticipation (45%) for an epilepsy app. This tells us there is a very strong interest in an app for patients' epilepsy needs.
Demographics
The bell curve on the graph shows the majority of respondents fall between ages 18 and 64, corresponding with populations of working age and who tend to be more digitally literate in society.
84% of those respondents surveyed were women. Ideally, there would be an equal amount of men and women using the app. This could mean that more women use epilepsy apps than other genders, but more research is needed to say for certain.
Discovery Questions
When asked to rate their experience with epilepsy apps, only 26% expressed dissatisfaction with current options.
74% of respondents indicated that they use a single app for managing their epilepsy, while 26% reported using multiple apps.
The most sought-after features related to epilepsy tracking included seizure history, medication reminders, and monitoring side effect symptoms.
The majority of respondents never use epilepsy apps or only use them once per week. However, a large percentage (34%) use it every day.
Survey respondents reported that 80% of their device usage for epilepsy management apps is on smartphones.
Survey Discoveries
Here some of the my major takeaways from the survey data:
Survey Discoveries
Here some of the my major takeaways from the survey data:
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According to the data, users have no interest in using an epilepsy app that offers a transportation feature. This may be because this feature is out of the scope of what users expect from an epilepsy app, and can use other available apps for features that offer the same function.
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Younger and middle-aged individuals surveyed are more willing to use apps for their seizure needs compared to individuals 55 years and older.
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Some individuals express a desire for additional safety features in epilepsy apps.
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Tracking features are the most sought after for features listed. However, other features such as community support and info are also popular.
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There is a notable demand among individuals with epilepsy for a comprehensive, all-in-one management app, even among those who are content with their current epilepsy apps.
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Many individuals with epilepsy do not utilize an epilepsy management app, and among those who do, daily usage is not common. This suggests that their needs may not be fully addressed by existing digital solutions.
Field Guide Used for User Interviews
Method 2: User Interviews
You may download the pdf file of the field quide here
Conducting the Interviews
For the interview process, I was able to shore up the interviews with the help of five participants: Two women, and three men. All participants are epilepsy patients of different ages ranging from 19 - 58 years old.
5 people
Each interview lasted approximately 30 minutes, during which participants were asked about their experiences living with epilepsy and their integration of technology into their daily routines. Upon the completion of the interview, participants received a $30 gift card as a token of appreciation.
Below are some notable suggestions and comments taken from the individual interviews:
Interviewee 1
Interviewee 3
Interviewee 5
"A way to look at the side effects and interactions between the medicines, as well as keep track of when I take my medication."
Interviewee 2
"If we could map our last seizures. Just like if someone told you you had a seizure."
"I just think being able to share with your doctor's office, then being able to have access to it when they need to know your information. "
Interviewee 4
"Reminders to take your pills. Also, this is kind of weird to say, but to track my menstrual cycles. I think my seizures are definitely hormone-related, so if that could be part of the app, that would be helpful."
"Something that would notify the people's loved ones --people's parents or caregivers during emergencies and any urgencies in general."
Interview Discoveries
After concluding the interview process, I gained valuable insights into the needs of the interviewees. Here are a few them:
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All interviewees highlighted the importance of medication alerts and reminders, along with the necessity for seizure tracking.
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All interviewees occasionally drive their cars, adjusting their usage based on their seizure experiences. Interestingly, they all expressed interest in ride-sharing services, although only a few were particularly enthusiastic about that potential feature in their epilepsy app.
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Female interviewees mentioned that hormonal changes during their menstrual cycle can trigger their seizures.
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Many of those who were interviewed find it difficult to feel safe, and suffer from anxiety due to their seizure condition.
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Some of the interviewees sought out information online for their seizure condition. Additionally, individuals seek to build relationships and understanding amongst others similar to themselves.
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Some interviewees viewed a corresponding watch app as a potentially helpful tool for the app.
Phase 2
Analyze
Affinity Map
Upon concluding the research phase of the project, I proceeded by analyzing the design of the app with an affinity map. As this map evolved, it was structured into nine major categories, as outlined below.
Click the photo to zoom in for a closer look:
Persona
I developed the David persona based on the user group that utilizes health apps to monitor his health. Additionally, David, the persona, strives for independence by utilizing safety features in apps.
Click the photo to zoom in for a closer look:
Empathy Map
Understanding David's perspective is crucial for empathizing with his daily experiences. Through an empathy map, it becomes evident that David grapples with anxiety due to his condition, which can manifest as impatience and disorganization in his daily life. Despite this, he actively seeks connection with others but faces challenges in doing so, given his uncertainty about potential seizures and fear of judgment from others when they occur.
Click the photo to zoom in for a closer look:
Journey Map
Based on the empathy map, it's evident that David harbors fears about experiencing seizures in public and desires greater independence. With this in mind, I aimed to examine how David might respond to using a seizure app with safety features to enhance his independence. Below, you'll discover David's actions during a seizure and how he leverages the seizure app for assistance.
Click the photo to zoom in for a closer look:
Insights
"What if there was an app that offered a complete solution for solving all aspects of epilepsy management, not just a few -- a one stop shop for epilepsy management?"
Below are the insights extracted and analyzed from all the research conducted:
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Users would like to track their medicine, seizures, and other activities related to their epilepsy condition
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An epilepsy app should prioritize ease of use and speed, considering that users with epilepsy often experience cognitive limitations and challenges due to the condition and medication-related side effects. Forgetfulness, particularly after seizures, can lead to difficulties in entering information accurately due to memory issues.
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Including a transportation and ride-sharing feature in the epilepsy app is redundant, as users overwhelmingly prefer using established apps like Uber, Lyft, and Grab for such services.
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A watch app for the epilepsy app has been seen with interest and would be expected to offer tracking and emergency SOS functionality.
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Seizure patients are curious and have a desire to learn more about epilepsy but often struggle to access information. Additionally, epilepsy patients experience feelings of loneliness and would like to interact and connect with others online who share similar experiences.
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Safety and the ability to call for help in emergencies would provide patients a sense of independence, thereby offering peace of mind to their family and friends.
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Women desire epilepsy apps to be more inclusive, enabling them to track and utilize features that address hormonal imbalances during menstrual cycles, a factor that can contribute to seizures.
"How Might We" Statements
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How might we provide support to people with epilepsy in emergencies so they can become more confident away from family and friends?
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How might we reduce the cognitive load and mental fatigue of repetitive tasks people with epilepsy are required to do in their epilepsy management?
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How might we make cross-communication between patients and doctors easier and more efficient?
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How might we help people with epilepsy discover drug interactions between medicines?
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How might we promote healthy living and dietary suggestions that may help people with epilepsy live a healthier life?
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How might we effectively alert women about the heightened risk of hormone-related seizures by providing menstrual cycle updates?
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How might we educate nearby bystanders to provide clear and concise seizure first aid instructions through an mobile app SOS feature when responding to someone experiencing a seizure?
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How might we assist in tracking and logging seizures for people who can’t recollect their seizure?
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How might we simplify a companion watch app, but make sure that it remains efficient and user friendly.
Phase 3
Design
Information Architecture
During the design phase, I utilized the research findings and "what if" statements as a foundation for the mobile app's navigation. However, I encountered challenges as the app started to feel overcrowded and overly complex, which is not conducive to creating an accessible and user-friendly experience, especially for users with cognitive limitations.
To address this, I decided to remove the transportation feature and incorporate the healthy living feed feature into the blog app, where users can access news and information on maintaining a healthy lifestyle with epilepsy.
There were multiple iterations of the below IA flowchart before landing on one that seemed ideal (seen below), meeting many of the users' needs.
Click the photo to zoom in for a closer look:
Wireframes
With the app navigation finalized, I had a solid foundation to guide the design of the wireframes for the project. I started by brainstorming low-fidelity wireframes on a whiteboard and then transitioned to creating higher-fidelity mockups using design software.
Low-fidelity Wireframes
The wireframes for the blog and news feature of the app, named "Boost," focus on reducing cognitive load by featuring suggested articles and prioritizing accessible content. This is achieved through article sampling and summaries within the wireframe to drive attention and minimize cognitive load for users.
Medium Fidelity Wireframes
After several iterations, I settled on a promising wireframe interface that I believed would be effective. However, before moving on to higher-fidelity mockups using software, I decided to revisit the research one last time. Upon reviewing the comments and suggestions from the research, I came to the realization that an interface that encourages browsing is preferable to one that prioritizes featured articles. This shift aligns with my inclusion principle, as many users are interested in a variety of categories, and the current design may exclude some users who need to search for content they enjoy. Therefore, using Balsamiq's wire-framing software, I made some aesthetic adjustments to create a more browsing-friendly design, opting for a highlighted boxy look with lists to facilitate content discovery.
What I Learned
Throughout the duration of this project, I took on the responsibility of bringing this idea from a problem to a possible solution. This was my first big UX research project, and like any first time big project, there are some things that went perfectly, and others encountering difficulties that I had to overcome.
Down below is a list of my major takeaways from the project:
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Ensuring the satisfaction of every individual's needs, regardless of the compelling nature of their story, necessitates a focused approach within set limitations. Put simply, creating an app cannot always cater to every individual's requirements comprehensively. Instead, it demands a holistic perspective where primary solutions addressing key needs are prioritized, with consideration for addressing additional needs in the future or omitting them altogether. Striking a balance between inclusion and exclusion is crucial and warrants careful consideration. Therefore, thorough diligence during the discovery phase is paramount in laying a robust research groundwork to guide informed decision-making later on.
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During the Discovery Phase, I accept that I should have spent more time on a more refined set of questions, as some pain points weren't discovered until later in the interview process when interviewees voiced their opinions about their needs which weren't being addressed by the original set of questions.
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Sometimes it is worth revisiting old designs and research to reaffirm your decision making. During the wire-framing process, I had been focusing on simplifying the browsing experience of the boost feature, but at the cost of those who have specific needs with their content consumption needs. It was smart of me to reevaluate this, and revisit research, ultimately validating the distinction between what people wanted vs what they actually needed.