Program Assistant Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Center for Health Equity Transformation
Preventive health screenings can detect some diseases early and reduce morbidity and mortality from many major chronic diseases. While there is a deluge of “health information” on the Internet, there remains difficulty in communicating evidence-based health information to underserved communities. In this presentation, we describe the design and usability testing of the Navigating Wellness and WellMama intervention (G08LM013188), developed in partnership with Chicago Public Libraries (CPL) to augment United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) information.
We used a design thinking approach to develop web-based tools to empower library patrons to access individualized information, while equipping librarians with tools to provide support. Usability testing was conducted with 25 CPL patrons, who completed a demographics questionnaire and feedback surveys. We also hosted two co-design sessions where 10 CPL patrons participated in an open forum format with various prompts. The data from these usability sessions will be displayed using a table, chart, and map, alongside images of the webtool itself.
This poster presents an innovative research methodology for iteratively co-creating accessible and reliable health information tools with their prospective users. This partnership between health equity researchers and libraries also demonstrates a promising strategy to make health information more accessible to all.