12 Design Solutions to Make Healthcare Information Easy To Understand and Accessible
It's quite a challenge for medical providers to relay complex health information to the general public. How can it be done? You would have to think about healthcare design solutions that simplify health-related information.
According to the CDC, difficult-to-understand health information affects the outcome, status, and costs of one's health condition. This can be especially limiting when one has a visual or hearing impairment. A more inclusive approach to patient education and communication has to be considered.
Everyone should ideally have equal access to the information they need to manage their health.
To ensure information empowers everyone, we need healthcare design solutions that prioritize inclusivity.
Here, we're going to explore 12 healthcare design solutions that empower individuals to have a clear understanding of how to manage their conditions or gain access to healthcare services.
1. High Contrast and Readable Text
Large, clear fonts with high contrast between text and background improve readability for people with visual impairments.
Example: A hospital website uses a black font on a white background with options to increase font size.
Utilizing high-contrast and readable text in healthcare materials significantly enhances accessibility for users with visual impairments or reading difficulties. By employing clear distinctions between text and background colors, such as using black text on a white background, healthcare websites like those for patient portals ensure that medical information, from appointment schedules to medication instructions, is easily legible for all users, promoting effective communication of essential health-related details.
2. Universal Symbols and Clear Icons
Simple, universally understood symbols can replace complex text, making information clear across languages and literacy levels.
Example: A medication label uses an icon of a glass of water next to dosage instructions.
Incorporating universal symbols and clear icons simplifies the understanding of complex healthcare information across diverse user groups. For instance, healthcare mobile apps often utilize universally recognized icons for functions like emergency contacts or medication reminders. This approach ensures that users of all ages and language abilities can easily navigate and understand critical healthcare functionalities without relying solely on text, thereby enhancing usability and user engagement.
3. Infographics and Visual Aids
Complex information can be broken down into easily digestible charts, graphs, and illustrations.
Example: A public health campaign uses infographics to explain the stages of a disease.
Infographics and visual aids streamline the presentation of intricate healthcare data into visually appealing formats that promote quick understanding. Hospitals and health organizations frequently employ infographics to illustrate health statistics, treatment options, or preventative care guidelines. By presenting information in a visually digestible manner, such as through charts or diagrams, healthcare providers empower patients and caregivers to grasp key healthcare concepts efficiently, facilitating informed decision-making and health management.
4. Alt Text for Images
Descriptive text alternatives for images allow screen readers to convey information to visually impaired users.
Example: A website describing a new medical device includes alt text for an image that reads: “A hand holding a small, blue inhaler with a white mouthpiece.”
Including alternative text descriptions (alt text) with images ensures that visually impaired users utilizing screen readers can access the same information conveyed through visual content. For example, a healthcare education website might provide alt text descriptions for medical diagrams or anatomical illustrations, enabling visually impaired individuals to comprehend complex medical concepts effectively through detailed textual descriptions, thereby promoting inclusivity in healthcare information dissemination.
5. Accessible Color Palettes
Color combinations with sufficient contrast ensure information is clear for people with color blindness.
Example: A diabetes management app uses a color scheme that differentiates blood sugar levels effectively for people with color vision deficiencies.
Designing with accessible color palettes caters to users with color blindness or visual impairments, ensuring that healthcare information remains clear and distinguishable for all individuals. Healthcare apps and websites adopt color combinations that meet accessibility standards, such as using contrasting colors for important alerts or health status indicators. This practice enables users to discern critical information without relying solely on color cues, thereby enhancing accessibility and usability across diverse user demographics.
6. Hierarchical Layouts
Organizing information in a logical and structured way, with clear headings and subheadings, makes navigation easier for everyone.
Example: A patient portal uses a tiered layout with main categories like "Appointments," "Test Results," and "Medical Records" for easy access.
Organizing healthcare information in hierarchical layouts enhances navigation and understanding by presenting content in a structured and intuitive manner. For instance, health insurance portals utilize hierarchical layouts to categorize policy details, claims information, and provider networks, allowing users to locate specific healthcare-related information efficiently. By organizing information logically and reducing cognitive load, hierarchical layouts improve user experience, ensuring that users can access and comprehend essential healthcare details without confusion.
7. Consistent Branding
A consistent visual identity across platforms (websites, printed materials, apps) builds trust and familiarity, making information easier to recognize and locate.
Example: A healthcare provider uses the same logo, color scheme, and fonts across their website, brochures, and social media graphics.
Maintaining consistent branding across healthcare materials reinforces trust and recognition among patients and caregivers. Healthcare providers employ consistent use of logo placement, color schemes, and typography in patient education materials, signage, and digital platforms to establish familiarity and reliability. This consistency not only enhances brand recognition but also reassures users of the continuity and professionalism of their healthcare services, thereby strengthening patient-provider relationships and promoting effective communication of healthcare information.
8. Accessible PDF and Print Materials
Ensuring PDFs and printed materials are compatible with screen readers and have clear formatting helps people with disabilities access information.
Example: All downloadable PDFs on a hospital website use proper heading structures and allow for text-to-speech conversion.
Designing healthcare PDFs and print materials with accessibility features such as screen reader compatibility and text-to-speech functionality ensures that all users, including those with visual impairments or reading difficulties, can access crucial healthcare information. For instance, hospitals may provide patient education brochures with text-to-speech capabilities, allowing visually impaired patients to listen to medication instructions or disease management tips directly from printed materials. This approach enhances accessibility by providing alternative means of accessing healthcare information beyond traditional visual reading methods.
9. Multimedia Accessibility
Providing captions and transcripts for videos and audio recordings ensures information is accessible to people with hearing impairments.
Example: Educational videos on a health condition come with closed captions and downloadable transcripts.
Ensuring multimedia content, such as videos, webinars, or podcasts, includes accessibility features like captions and transcripts, enhances accessibility for users with hearing impairments or language barriers. Health education platforms integrate captions, transcripts, and sign language interpretation in multimedia content, ensuring that all users can access and comprehend vital healthcare information without limitations. This inclusive approach to multimedia accessibility promotes equitable access to healthcare knowledge, facilitating informed decision-making and patient empowerment.
10. Instructional Graphics
Step-by-step visual guides can be used to explain complex procedures or medication use in a clear and concise way.
Example: Instructions on how to use an inhaler are accompanied by step-by-step diagrams.
Instructional graphics are invaluable in simplifying complex healthcare procedures for users. For example, instructions incorporating graphics to guide users through taking medications correctly, using medical equipment like inhalers or blood glucose monitors, or performing rehabilitation exercises. These graphics typically feature step-by-step visual instructions with annotations or animations, ensuring that patients can understand and follow medical guidelines independently. By visually demonstrating the correct procedures, instructional graphics promote accurate healthcare practices and empower users to manage their health effectively.
11. Interactive Graphics
Allowing users to manipulate charts, graphs, or 3D models can make information more engaging and easier to understand.
Example: An online anatomy tool allows users to rotate and zoom in on a 3D model of the human heart.
Incorporating interactive graphics into healthcare information engages users by allowing them to interact with content through hands-on exploration. For instance, an anatomy learning website might feature interactive diagrams where users can click on anatomical structures to access detailed descriptions, medical conditions, or treatment options. This interactive approach encourages active learning and deepens understanding of complex medical concepts in an engaging and accessible manner, fostering enhanced retention and application of healthcare knowledge.
12. User Feedback Integration
Having user feedback mechanisms allows people to report accessibility issues, helping creators improve the information's reach.
Example: A health information website or app includes a feedback button for users to report difficulties accessing content.
Integrating user feedback mechanisms into healthcare platforms facilitates continuous improvement based on user insights and preferences. For example, telemedicine apps may incorporate user feedback surveys following virtual consultations to gather feedback on service quality, usability, and information clarity. This feedback enables developers and healthcare providers to refine their platforms, enhancing user experience and ensuring that healthcare information is effectively communicated and understood by users.
These are some of the healthcare design solutions that an organization ideally has to consider when creating materials for patients and those seeking health information.
If you're in the medical service field, Delesign can help you implement these healthcare design solutions that will benefit the community you serve. We take our time to understand your vision and come up with easy-to-understand graphics, visual aids, and other materials that your practice needs.
