Information Design for Diagnostics: Ensuring Confidence and Accuracy for Home Sampling and Home Testing
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Reading
Department Name: Typography and Graphic Communication
Abstract
n this inter-disciplinary project, information designers are working with diagnostic technology researchers on the design of procedural instructions and information to accompany home testing and home sampling kits.
COVID-19 testing has placed an unprecedented burden on diagnostics services and sample collection remains a major bottleneck. Samples taken at home can be sent to labs, avoiding the need for sample collection at a clinic or hospital. Point-of-care testing technology can also allow testing in the home, without requiring a diagnostic lab. In both home sampling and home testing, simplicity and accuracy is critical to compliance.
We will design spoken and written instructions for home sampling - where fingerstick blood is sent to central labs for testing; and for home testing using conventional lateral flow rapid tests. Information design methods, including evaluation of effectivenesss with a cohort of volunteers will ensure that the needs of users are met. We will combine established information design principles with novel methodology exploiting videolink research plus 3D printed models of home testing equipment to develop a complete set of guidance for a wide range of home diagnostics.
By contributing to the success and viability of mass home testing, our work will have economic, social and health impact and unburden health centres with people that need to physically attend for testing.
COVID-19 testing has placed an unprecedented burden on diagnostics services and sample collection remains a major bottleneck. Samples taken at home can be sent to labs, avoiding the need for sample collection at a clinic or hospital. Point-of-care testing technology can also allow testing in the home, without requiring a diagnostic lab. In both home sampling and home testing, simplicity and accuracy is critical to compliance.
We will design spoken and written instructions for home sampling - where fingerstick blood is sent to central labs for testing; and for home testing using conventional lateral flow rapid tests. Information design methods, including evaluation of effectivenesss with a cohort of volunteers will ensure that the needs of users are met. We will combine established information design principles with novel methodology exploiting videolink research plus 3D printed models of home testing equipment to develop a complete set of guidance for a wide range of home diagnostics.
By contributing to the success and viability of mass home testing, our work will have economic, social and health impact and unburden health centres with people that need to physically attend for testing.
Publications
Needs S
(2020)
Remote videolink observation of model home sampling and home testing devices to simplify usability studies for point-of-care diagnostics
in Wellcome Open Research
Walker S
(2022)
Instructions for COVID-19 self-tests What parts of the test are the most difficult to get right and how can information design help?
in Information Design Journal
Walker, S.
(2023)
User-friendly point-of-use instructions for home use diagnostic tests.
| Description | The outcome of this project are recommendations for the design of procedural instructions for diagnostic tests carried out by lay people. These Point of Use instructions need to e user friendly and we have used information design research and practice, and feedback from a user panel and project partners to produce a set of transferable principles that can be applied to different kinds of home-testing kits. The recommendations are presented in the form of a Toolkit - that explains how Point of Use instructions can be made to take account of the needs of end users. Overall our research indicated that: - the application of information design research and practice enhances user access to instructional text - consistency in presentation of language and images is helpful to users - an overview of procedural steps carrying out a test helps users - it is beneficial to involve end users by asking what they think about draft versions of sets of instructions before finalising - instructions are accessible to more audiences when both print and digital formats are available; video versions provide an accessible overview of the procedure, and print versions allows people to go at their own pace, and to review their progress - particular care is needed for describing and illustrating action steps that may be are perceived as challenging due to the dexterity needed - while regulations strive to ensure in-vitro diagnostic test products are usable, in some cases there is a discrepancy between mandatory requirements, and clear and simple instructions and guidance for use |
| Exploitation Route | We have secured additional funding from University of Reading's Rapid Response Policy Engagement initiative for a project 'Testing, testing; translating research into accessible information for acting on policy'. This involves making diagnostic testing manufacturers and service providers aware of the benefit of providing accessible Point of Use instructions to supplement their products / engagement with the public. We have a produced a 'toolkit' and a dataset for the design of instructions to support home and community diagnostic testing. 'User-friendly point-of-use instructions for home use diagnostic tests' provides evidence-based guidance and tools for manufacturers of tests, service providers and content and design specialists who produce instructions to accompany diagnostic tests for home and community use. The toolkit, organised in 5 sections provides guidance on writing, visual organisation and how to engage with your users. |
| Sectors | Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| URL | https://research.reading.ac.uk/design-research-for-testing-diagnostics/ |
| Description | It is early to say, but we have some evidence, particularly from clinicians working in GP practices, that easy to follow instructions (based on the findings of the research) are welcomed. The project has also resulted in collaboration with industry: Roche Diagnostics asked us to apply our findings to instructions for the Standard Operating Procedure for use of lateral flow test kits for viral flu, to be used in GP surgeries. We undertook a series of studies for the Department of Health and Social Care, who wanted feedback on the usability of saliva-based lateral flow kits. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Title | User-friendly point-of-use instructions for home use diagnostic tests |
| Description | This toolkit provides guidance for producing clear and user-friendly point-of-use instructions for testing kits. It is for: - manufacturers and distributors of tests - service providers who might want to brief designers and content specialists - content specialists and designers who need information about producing instructional text This guidance includes: - information about what you should consider when producing user-friendly instructions, based on the findings of research and good practice - examples of how the guidance has been applied by those who implement policy in diagnostic companies The toolkit has been designed primarily to support instructions in a static/fixed page layout. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://researchdata.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/419 |
| Description | Collaboration with diagnostic test providers |
| Organisation | F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG |
| Department | Roche Diagnostics, UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The team introduced user-centred Point of Use instructions to the marketing and out-reach team, and explained the project research to date. The team designed versions of diagrams showing different illustration styles, based on observations from the Roche team, and explained the next stages in the project including asking for advice about research users |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Roche team provided information about their experience of using lateral flow tests in the workplace. They provided contacts to extend the reach of our work. The team provided feedback on the illustrations styles. |
| Impact | The outcomes from the discussions are prototype Point of Use instructions for lateral flow tests. This led to a project that applied the design features from the prototypes to other forms for health-related procedural instructions. The disciplines involved in this work are biological science, information design, nursing and NHS general practice. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Expert commentary and journalist support on Covid-19 pandemic, especially rapid and home testing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Having conducted research into new technologies for point-of-care and out-of-hospital diagnostic testing for over a decade, I have been able to bring my expertise and knowledge to apply to the important topic of covid-19 testing, that has been prominent in public debate during the pandemic. This has ranged from assessing latest developments or data regarding the quality and performance of rapid tests, to explaining how tests work, to providing insight into strengths and limitations of testing products such as lateral flow rapid tests, that entered our homes -often for the first time -in 2021. During 2021 our University press office noted >3,000 mentions of "Al Edwards University of Reading" in press or online, giving an idea of the scale and reach of this media activity. This includes: mainstream media (print and online), regular radio and occasional TV interviews, and fact checkers. Examples include: "your Covid questions answered" weekly on local BBC radio, through to regular mentions in mainstream media (Daily Mail, Mail online, Guardian, BBC website). In addition to the general public, I have advised journalists writing for more specialist audiences including New Scientist and British Journal of Medicine. A major route to this public awareness activity and media engagement is through the Science Media Center, a vital and central institution that has consistently supported connections between scientists and journalists throughout the pandemic. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Talk and panel discussion at information design conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This talk 'Designing instructions for COVID-19 self-tests: how do people use static and video instructions, and what parts of the test are the most difficult to get right?' was part of the Information+ conference in August 2021. The talk was available online and this was followed by a panel discussion with other participants who had submitted papers onthe theme of health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://research.reading.ac.uk/design-research-for-testing-diagnostics/information-conference-2021/ |