Qualitative Research | Industrial Design
Moments of Impact
The video script was written by me using direct quotes from qualitative research with doctors, patients and caregivers. A video was used as a tool to allow the audience to experience the same impact.
Why create a product to help people coping with cancer?
Cancer effects 8,000,000 people in the US alone. Treatment is extremely stressful on the body and the mind. As a designer I wanted to tackle a project much bigger than myself. It was extremely challenging finding people going through this disease to speak with and the most challenging part was empathizing with someone facing their mortality. Through extensive user research, including interviews with doctors, patients and caregivers, as well as learning about cancer from a biology standpoint, I set out to design a better experience.
Qualitative Research
I wanted my qualitative research to be as immersive as possible to get a real glimpse and achieve a true understanding of what people go through when they receive diagnosis such as cancer. After being connected with a number of patients at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, MA, my research took off, especially with volunteers such as Deb and her partner Dotty, who invited me to attend as many chemotherapy sessions, doctor appointments and into their home. Through my time with Deb and Dotty I began to understand how they dealt with a diagnosis such as cancer and how it has changed their lives. It was also extremely important to speak to a number of Doctors who are responsible for informing the patients of their conditions and laying out treatment plans.
People With Cancer
Deb, Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer
Diagnosis
"This isn't good ...”
Deb's doctor looked at her x-ray and knew it was not good news. Deb knew it was cancer. She was taken aback but was ready to make a plan and fight.
"It was me, and my body, my disease and I was excluded"
After diagnosis, Deb and Dotty had to meet with doctors to plan treatment. Doctors walked in and walked out spewing information about treatment and how they were going to fight Deb's cancer. During such a difficult time full of anxiety, Deb to fel as though she was part of an assembly line, she felt a lack of human empathy from her medical team.
“Sense of calm and being grounded is what’s really important.”
One of the most difficult times for people with cancer is dealing with anxiety when waiting. Waiting for test results, waiting to undergo treatment, waiting for your doctor appointments. Deb and Dotty both participated in yoga, meditation and Reiki to keep there spirits positive and calm during such a difficult time.
Treatment
Monday Morning Chemotherapy and Doctor appointments
Deb and Dotty let me come every other Monday to chemotherapy appointments and doctor appointments in order experience the effects cancer has on their lifestyle. They commute a total of 3 hours from their home to Boston, MA where Deb received treatment. Each chemo appointment lasts about 4 hours, where Deb sits in the chair and receives chemo through her port. Sitting with Deb and Dotty every other week allowed me to empathize the impact cancer treatment has on a person and their family.
Chemo unit's are set up with simple privacy curtains so nurses can here machine alerts and easily enter and exit to care for each patient. There are anywhere from 20-40 seats on a chemo floor. Each person getting treatment is trying to pass the time by talking to loved ones, watching tv or reading. There is a lot of commotion happening on the floor so it gets difficult to have a quiet moment.
The chemotherapy treatment area's decibel read was 71
The Boston Subway full of students decibel read was 75
Deb had her PhD in audiology and emphasized the impact noise has on someones ability to have a relaxing moment. She brought me in a decibel reader to compare the noise levels of the chemo treatment area to other areas in the city. To my surprise, the decibel measurement came very close to the Boston subway full of loud students leaving school at 3:00 pm on a Monday. It was shocking that a place people are sitting for hours receiving treatment, that can be extremely stressful and painful, is as loud as a busting subway. It is extremely difficult to have a peaceful moment in an environment that gets so loud.
Coping at Home
During my research, Deb and Dotty invited me to their home to see and talk to them about how they cope with cancer on a day to day basis. Deb has an array of medication she takes multiple times a day. Dotty created a system to help Dotty keep track of medicine and how she is feeling on a day to day basis.
Each morning, Dotty would lay out Deb's medication with corresponding sticky notes labeling which she had to take and when she had to take them.
“I created a spreadsheet for Deb that starts on a chemo day. What are the things she needs to be aware of on a daily basis, what are the side effects, her energy levels... So everyday she can go and take notes and check off and it gives her a history too and we print that out and we keep that for week to week. “How did I feel this week”. — Dotty
“It’s been really helpful for me because like how would you rate this day... is this a good overall day. I can look and compare my two week cycles with each other...like oh yeah I always feel tired on this day. So then I don’t get so panicky about fearing that something is not right.” Deb
Dotty helps Deb stay organized by creating a spreadsheet for each chemo cycle. Deb could rate each day and use it as a tool to track and manage symptoms. They could then share that information with her doctors. It was helpful for Deb to see her progress and how she was feeling so she knows what is normal and what is not normal.
“Sense of calm and being grounded is what’s really important.” — Dotty
In general a person who receives reiki experiences a feeling of warmth flowing in and around, thus restoring energy and balance.” The Art of Reiki
Both Deb and Dotty as well as other people who have gone through cancer take measure to cope with anxiety and find peace. One method Deb used every other week was Reiki, which is when a Reiki Practitioner gently places his or her hands over different points of energy on a persons body to restore energy and balance. She found the gentle touch of her practitioner deeply relaxing, meditative and restoring.
Dotty also partook in activities aimed at relaxation including meditation and yoga.
Importance of Community
Jill, another women who I spoke with who went through Breast cancer, highlighted the importance of community and feeling held. Jill received a jacket specific for women going through breast cancer that had been passed down.
“She gave me this jacket and said you’re the 10th woman to wear it. The only conditions are when you’re done with it you pass it on to someone... You kind of feel held by this community of spirits who have worn the jacket...It feels friendly...It makes me think of the woman who gave it to me and all the women who came before.” — Jill, Breast Cancer Survivor
Caregiver DJ
Kristen was training to be yoga instructor when at 27 she was diagnosed with an aggressive form on cancer. During her battle with cancer, she sought peace comfort in her yoga practice even though it had changed with her disease. She started Bohdi and Mind yoga to help other women with cancer practice yoga. Kristen lost her battle with cancer at 28.
Her caregiver and fiance DJ carried on her legacy as executive director at Bohdi and Mind Yoga. Bodhi and Mind a team of yoga instructors who work one-on-one with people going through cancer treatment. DJ said yoga and meditation helped his late fiancée Kristen to deal with anxiety during her battle with cancer. Speaking with DJ opened my eyes to the potential of incorporating meditation as a part of my design.
“So in a stressful situation if I can slow my breathing then I can slow my heart rate, I can make myself less anxious.”
- DJ A.
“...There’s been a lot of studies, if you can control your breath you have a much better likelihood of being able to control your heartbeat. So in a stressful situation if I can slow my breathing then I can slow my heart rate, I can make myself less anxious.” - DJ A.
Ideation
During and after my qualitative research process I began the process of following the data. I worked with my data through repeated note taking and mind-mapping in order to make sense of the date and begin to apply the findings to a product and experience.
"In dealing with cancer is is very easy to feel a loss of control and panic. Using breath management in order to cope with anxiety empowers the user to calm themselves down and regain that control."
Using Moments of Calm, the Tactile Support of Reiki and Breath Work to Create Empowered Moments of Peace.
Based on the conversations with people affected by cancer one of the most prominent areas lacking solutions was a product or service that helps manage anxiety. Cancer can very easily make people feel a loss of control and panic. Using breath management in order to cope with anxiety empowers the user to calm themselves down and regain that control.
Trying to focus on managing your breath is challenging in a loud space, such as the chemotherapy area. I wanted the breath management to have a light tactility similar to Reiki. Light pressure on the body releases dopamine contributing to the decrease in anxiety.
Exploration
Using silhouettes and pieces that already exist in wearables and clothing designed for people going through cancer treatment, I started ideating on how to apply a tactile sense of calm and create a personal moment of peace.
I thought through where this product would live on the body through sketching. Where can it be placed to provide a tactile breath reminder to effectively help the wearer manage their anxiety?
The two main areas of interest were the hands and the head and torso area. The hands because they contain a number of pressure points that can help relieve stress. The hands would not work because many people receiving cancer treatment require an IV inserted on the hand and I want people to use this device wherever and whenever they want to. Around the head and torso area allowed me to apply this tactile breath reminder and incorporate a ear cover to create a quiet space. So regardless of where the user is, they can find a safe space.
Inspiration and Ideation
“Hope is a thing with feathers that perches on the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all....” - Emily Dickinson
