Decision Support - challenging the age-related discrimination of young adults

Purpose and goal

The overall aim of the project has been achieved by a norm creative innovation process in which problems have been identified, innovative concepts to solve these problems developed and a prototypes tested with patients and caregivers that aim at giving young adults suffering from cancer improved health and well-being - resulting in a more value adding tool for health care providers and for Health Solutions improved competitiveness.

Expected results and effects

The following norm disrupting design concepts and prototypes have been developed: 1. Visualization of the patient journey gives patient better knowledge/control over the care process and thereby decrease anxiety 2. Chatbot on sexuality, fertility and other important subjects connected to a cancer diagnosis, on patient demand 3. Concept for communication with healthcare digital follow-up of symptoms and QoL decreasing patient’s anxiety and feeling of being the project manager for the care at the hospital - and has through research showed to increase survival in cancer patients

Planned approach and implementation

The project has been executed according to the Design Thinking Process. The unmet needs of young adults with cancer were compiled through deep interviews and a poll conducted among the patient organization Ung Cancer’s members. Interviews were conducted with health care. Gaps were identified, areas where the existing health care cannot be considered equal. Based on this, idea generating workshops were held and the results prioritized. Design sketches and prototypes were developed and tested on the patient group and with healthcare professionals - the outcomes were very positive.