Senior project proposal

Katherine HlavacSpring 2011

Subject of study

The millions of people worldwide that will undergo treatment for or live with a chronic condition and more specifically the growing number of children, adolescents, and young adults that will have to cope with this while trying to lead normal lives.

Why should this be addressed?

Nearly 1 in 2 people have a chronic condition. This could be an illness like cancer or rheumatoid arthritis, or a condition such as diabetes, migraines or back pain from a car accident.

http://invisibleillnessweek.com/media-toolkit/statistics/

9 million people are cancer survivors with various side effects from treatment who may feel as though they have a chronic condition. (American Cancer Society)

The divorce rate among the chronically ill is over 75 percent. *

*National Health Interview Survey

Various studies have reported that physical illness or uncontrollable physical pain are major factors in up to 70% of suicides, and more than 50% of these suicidal patients were under 35 years of age.

Michalon M: La psychiatrie de consultation-liaison: une etude prospective en milieu hospitalier general. Can J Psychiatry (In French) 38:168-174,1993

Sometimes all that is needed is understanding and help from others going through the same thing.

After a diagnosis a patient is left on their own with no instructions on what they should do.

We get information for everything else. Why not for our wellness.

I am not looking to cure a disease I am creating a coping system. A first step. Finding a way to let chronically ill reach out for help and feel less alone.

• How can X continue their life while successfully treating/watching their illness?

• How can X take charge of their healthcare, treatment and recovery?

• How can resources relating to their healthcare become unlimited to x?

• How can the solution supplement the role of doctor, parent, caregiver, or physiologist?

• How can X gain knowledge about their treatment/condition?

• How can X become part of a community and gain support?

• How can X’s questions be answered?

• How can others be aware of X’s condition or stage in treatment?

• How can the solution help X gain independence?

• How can the solution be seamlessly blended into X’s life?

Many of the people affected with chronic illness are the elderly who are a lot less active and busy with fewer responsibilities.

Gap Found gap in addressing the healthcare needs for the young and active.

Concentrating primarily on ages in which you are most active. This includes children, teens, young adults, and working adults.

Age

CleanFresh

TrustworthyHonestOfficialMedicalModern

Representative of the 3 levels of connection

I will continue by gathering information from the people who are living with chronic illness to gain a first had perspective.

Use this to create personas and fuel my ideation process.

Most of all I will continue to use peoples

feedback to shape my design in order to save lives.

Know

Share

LIVE

Inform

Integrate

Connect

Thank you