How to co-design a prototype of a clinical practice tool: a framework with practical guidance and a case study (12 December 20223)

Summary

The research focuses on the application of user-centred design approaches and co-design principles in improving usability and acceptability of clinical tools (e.g. medicine reconciliation charts, diagnosis support tools and track-and-trigger charts). It highlights that limited practical guidance is currently available.

Content

The authors of this study propose a framework (FRamework for co-dESign of Clinical practice tOols or ’FRESCO’) that offers practical guidance based on user-centred methods and co-design principles, organised in five steps:

• establish a multidisciplinary advisory group;
• develop initial drafts of the prototype;
• conduct think-aloud usability evaluations;
• test in clinical simulations; 
• generate a final prototype informed by workshops.

The authors applied the framework in a case study to support co-design of a prototype track-and- trigger chart for detecting and responding to possible fetal deterioration during labour.