Wellbeing in healthcare environments a human-centered design research approach to improving the cancer patient experience during radiation therapy

Healthcare and medical products are often designed with the singular focus of providing the best treatment available to patients. However, research has shown that this treatment-based approach does not result in quality care. There are many factors that play into making a healthcare experience patient-centered, and this paper explores the use of human-centered design research to understand this experience. This paper presents a case-study of a Radiotherapy Department at a University Hospital, where we used patient survey, observational, and narrative data to gain awareness into the patient experience during radiation therapy. Our research shows how the current radiotherapy environment is anxiety provoking to the patient, and how insights gained from the written and visual stories of the patients’ experiences were used to develop a design solution that improves the patient view in the treatment room with the intent to make this space more patient-centered and inviting. In conclusion, this paper argues that designing for the patient experience and their emotional wellbeing is a crucial aspect of any healthcare service.