Can PLAY EASE THE PAIN?
PROJECT: MSC thesis
case: Børneriget
PROduct: Concept design
CHALLENGE
Intravenous cannulations (inserting a small plastic tube in the vein) is one of the most common procedures performed in a hospital, yet also one of the most terrified among children. In collaboration with Børneriget this project aimed to make intravenous cannulations less frightening. Børneriget’s goal is to become the world’s best children’s hospital, having play as a key part of the treatments and overall patient experience. Inspired by this vision, the project wanted to answer this question: How can we create play-based tools to reduce children’s anxiety about intravenous cannulations?PROCESS
To better understand the patients, families, and healthcare workers, an extensive user study was done. The study revealed something very interesting: how strongly children mirror their parents’ emotions. It became clear to us that, regardless of how well-prepared a child might be, if their parents feel anxious about the procedure, it often dictates the outcome. This led to the realization that the most efficient way to calm children is to calm their parents. With a revised project scope we explored the root causes of parents’ anxiety, and found that much of it stemmed from feelings of being under-informed and a loss of control. Through several design iterations and collaborative workshops with designers from Børneriget, we developed a solution to address this.
Photo: børneriget
OUTCOME
The solution was a redesign of the e-Boks invitation parents receive prior to the procedure. This invitation is usually the parent’s first point of contact with the hospital and an ideal opportunity to reach them before they enter the unfamiliar and sometimes intimidating hospital environment. To improve their understanding and give them a better sense of control, the new design goes beyond just providing time and location of the procedure. It includes clear, actionable instructions on how to prepare, and more detailed information about the procedure itself. While the final solution was quite different from our original idea of creating toy designs for children, it addressed the ultimate goal of reducing children’s anxiety. 
