Probing the Patient Experience

This paper presents the design probe kit as a valuable tool to investigate patient experiences within healthcare systems. Providing journals and cameras to cancer patients, we ask them to document their interactions and emotions while receiving radiotherapy treatment. The data gathered through these materials gives insight into the key role of nurses within radiation therapy, mediating the ‘unexpected’ negative effects of the treatment technologies on the patient experience. This paper suggests that there are multiple opportunities for patient-centered design to create positive change and increase both patient and provider wellbeing within this environment.