Humanizing data to advance brain health
A
Public Works
Case Study
Humanizing data to advance brain health
A
Public Works
Case Study
Recently, scientists discovered innovative ways to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. These disease-modifying therapies could extend quality of life for more than 13 million Americans — if, and only if, the disease is detected early.
Humanizing data to advance brain health
A collaboration with Cogstate that actively engaged Physicians and Patients in the visual design of cognitive assessment results
A collaboration with Cogstate that actively engaged Physicians and Patients in the visual design of cognitive assessment results
Offering
Research
Research
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Design (CX, UX & UI)
Design (CX, UX & UI)
Actions
Prototyping Lab
Outcomes
90% Report redesign
Impact
Tracking adoption
This is problematic given many Primary Care Providers (PCPs) on the frontlines of Alzheimer’s detection often avoid cognitive assessments. There are various reasons for this, including time. Also, many lack training in this area and, hence, confidence. So, they rely on patients and care partners to present concerns about cognition. However, fear of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis prevents many older Americans from speaking up.
Enter Cognigram, a HIPPA-compliant, FDA Class II exempt digital medical device designed by Cogstate to make cognitive assessments simple, reliable, and quick. Cognigram is powered by the Cogstate Brief Battery, which has been effectively used to monitor cognitive function in over 2,000 research studies. It is also scientifically validated for use with or without physician supervision — leaving PCPs time to discuss results and next steps, rather than conduct assessments.
Yet our research revealed that commercial adoption of Cognigram would require behavior change. It would require PCPs and older Americans to know that a product like Cognigram exists, be motivated to try it, have the skills to use it, and feel supported along the way.
Our research also revealed that the Cognigram report was a key leverage point in the assessment experience that could help catalyze the behavior changes needed to increase product adoption and inspire actions that advance brain health in clinics and homes across the U.S. But the visual communication of the results would require significant development. Public Works was honored to lead the visual redesign of the Cognigram report.
Reframing the design challenge
We developed and facilitated a 16-week Report Prototyping Lab. The lab consisted of five phases. Each phase employed various human-centered research and design methods to actively engage a diversity of stakeholders in the redesign of the Cognigram report.
Prototyping with Primary Care Physicians (PCPs), Neurologists, and older Americans quickly confirmed the assessment's primary value proposition: Unlike most paper-based assessments, Cognigram objectively measures and visualizes brain health over time. These data visualizations make cognitive impairment easier for PCPs to talk about and harder for patients to deny. Yet they can also negatively affect the emotional well-being of those impacted by cognitive impairment. Additionally, the clinical significance of the data was difficult for PCPs to interpret.
We leveraged these insights to frame our design challenge: How might we humanize the visualization of Cognigram results so that older Americans and PCPs can easily understand the data, without being overwhelmed by it and without compromising the scientific validity of the assessment?
Translating insights into actions
The Prototyping Lab resulted in a 90% redesign of the report. Together, we:
Established a strong visual hierarchy
Replacing the word 'test' with 'assessment'
Added a summary to ease interpretation at a glance
Added explanation of each cognitive domain and score
Replaced line graphs with bell curves to buffer the psychological impact of impairment
Consolidated the report from 3 to 2 pages when printed
Adapted the report for easy viewing online
This is problematic given many Primary Care Providers (PCPs) on the frontlines of Alzheimer’s detection often avoid cognitive assessments. There are various reasons for this, including time. Also, many lack training in this area and, hence, confidence. So, they rely on patients and care partners to present concerns about cognition. However, fear of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis prevents many older Americans from speaking up.
Enter Cognigram, a HIPPA-compliant, FDA Class II exempt digital medical device designed by Cogstate to make cognitive assessments simple, reliable, and quick. Cognigram is powered by the Cogstate Brief Battery, which has been effectively used to monitor cognitive function in over 2,000 research studies. It is also scientifically validated for use with or without physician supervision — leaving PCPs time to discuss results and next steps, rather than conduct assessments.
Yet our research revealed that commercial adoption of Cognigram would require behavior change. It would require PCPs and older Americans to know that a product like Cognigram exists, be motivated to try it, have the skills to use it, and feel supported along the way.
Our research also revealed that the Cognigram report was a key leverage point in the assessment experience that could help catalyze the behavior changes needed to increase product adoption and inspire actions that advance brain health in clinics and homes across the U.S. But the visual communication of the results would require significant development. Public Works was honored to lead the visual redesign of the Cognigram report.
Reframing the design challenge
We developed and facilitated a 16-week Report Prototyping Lab. The lab consisted of five phases. Each phase employed various human-centered research and design methods to actively engage a diversity of stakeholders in the redesign of the Cognigram report.
Prototyping with Primary Care Physicians (PCPs), Neurologists, and older Americans quickly confirmed the assessment's primary value proposition: Unlike most paper-based assessments, Cognigram objectively measures and visualizes brain health over time. These data visualizations make cognitive impairment easier for PCPs to talk about and harder for patients to deny. Yet they can also negatively affect the emotional well-being of those impacted by cognitive impairment. Additionally, the clinical significance of the data was difficult for PCPs to interpret.
We leveraged these insights to frame our design challenge: How might we humanize the visualization of Cognigram results so that older Americans and PCPs can easily understand the data, without being overwhelmed by it and without compromising the scientific validity of the assessment?
Translating insights into actions
The Prototyping Lab resulted in a 90% redesign of the report. Together, we:
Established a strong visual hierarchy
Replacing the word 'test' with 'assessment'
Added a summary to ease interpretation at a glance
Added explanation of each cognitive domain and score
Replaced line graphs with bell curves to buffer the psychological impact of impairment
Consolidated the report from 3 to 2 pages when printed
Adapted the report for easy viewing online
Recently, scientists discovered innovative ways to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. These disease-modifying therapies could extend quality of life for more than 13 million Americans — if, and only if, the disease is detected early.
Below:
Below:
Report before and after prototyping lab
Report before and after prototyping lab
Catalzyzing behavior change
The work undertaken in the Prototyping Lab has positioned the product for adoption in doctor’s offices and homes across the U.S. The humanized report makes the cognitive assessment easier for Primary Care Physicians to discuss and Seniors to digest. It also promotes a proactive approach to monitoring brain health. This is a significant behavior change that can advance the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer’s. And extend the quality of life for millions of Americans who will have to confront the disease.