Without a doubt, healthcare is taking relevant steps into a more technological reality. More and more options and gadgets will have an impact on the sector as we know it. This is where UX design comes into play.
Because this is a sector that focuses on the well-being of the user, the options offered need to be intuitive and easy to use. But also in line with the latest innovations in technology.
The investment in AI software and the service market is increasing as more healthcare products are introduced to the market. We are seeing innovations, particularly in healthcare app creation companies. Yet, that is only the tip of the iceberg.
See our predictions for the top 7 UX design trends that will change the game in healthcare!
UX Design Trends
1. Medical Wearables
Not so long ago, we used proper medical equipment to check blood pressure and sugar levels. Today, we can do all of that through the use of medical wearables, more specifically, smartwatches.
These devices are easy to wear, understandable, and, portable. And their self-monitoring apps have helped, and are still helping, a lot of users to change their healthcare habits. In a few seconds, you can check your sleeping habits, and your blood pressure, and even create alerts to get you moving!
Technology is helping a variety of users gain access to a monitored health tracker. Soon, these elements will constitute the needed help to push healthcare globalization. How? For example, some insurance firms are giving away cards for people that achieve certain goals set up by digital wearables.
2. Chatbots and AI
Of course, AI (artificial intelligence) is always in the picture of technological evolution. In all sectors, including healthcare, there are a variety of possibilities for this type of technology.
For instance, there are situations in which the lack of required team members is easily handled by AI tech. There are others in which touch-free solutions prove to be very practical in high-risk areas.
Chatbots in particular are evolving into more intelligent and reliable options. These artificial robots can be used to:
- Book appointments;
- Check on patients’ health conditions;
- Remind patients to take their medication;
- …and more!
The way chatbots are evolving, predicts a bigger number of covered areas in the whole healthcare sector. Thus contributing to its subsequent progress and improvement.
Many also predict that AI technology will evolve in such a way that it will work by itself based on patients’ data. In the future, we might have the possibility to turn medical image analysis, diagnosis assistance, reports, and paperwork into digital data.
3. Patient-Centric UI Design
Patients’ points of view of an interface will become more prevalent in UX design trends for healthcare. The following will become determining parts for the success of the overall user experience:
- Graphics;
- Visuals;
- Fonts…
These contribute to an inclusive, added-value journey! For older patients, this will also be vital to help them use technology to their advantage.
As a result, many healthcare companies are starting to take the matter of the interface more into consideration. Especially in their apps, social media, and websites. The goal is to present an interface common to the whole organization that can measure the users’ experiences with these elements.
4. Digital Options for Mental Health
The talk on mental health is more and more present. Nonetheless, this is a somewhat “trending topic” that is still being significantly disregarded from a medical perspective. Many are the people that still don’t realize, nor acknowledge, the dire consequences of these issues.
Regardless, today we have at our disposal a plethora of apps that promote mental health and mindfulness. Usually, with guided meditations and practices. With the help of these, some patients have managed to control their anxiety or depression.
Some apps also provide a variety of exercise suggestions with varying intensity levels. Some of them even have video tutorials to help the user perform the exercise.
5. DTx (Digital Therapeutics)
DTx consists of a technology that provides the user with patient-facing applications that assists in the prevention and management of a particular disease. Further, displaying the possibility to support oriented treatments that help patients self-manage their symptoms.
Nowadays, digital therapeutics are accessible via mobile devices, sensors, and more. They record and process behavioral changes observed in the patient. Then, forwarding them to the most indicated course of action. Some of these applications are dedicated to particular diseases such as diabetes.
6. Voice-Based Technology
Within this category, we can point to two types of possibilities:
- Voice user interfaces;
- Vocal biomarkers.
Voice user interfaces became more prevalent with the COVID-19 pandemic. Through these devices, one could, and still can ease contact-free communication. All by using voice and speech commands. A contactless option that gives the patient control through speech.
Vocal biomarkers also present themselves as an evolving technology with huge potential. A clear example is scientists’ attempt to detect diseases and other health risks through a patient’s voice.
There’s a lot of potential to be explored here, the ability to identify diseases with one simple phone call is one of them. Scientists have been doing a lot of research connected with coronary artery diseases, pulmonary hypertension, and even Parkinson’s.
7. AR & VR
Lastly, we have virtual and augmented reality as two of the potential innovations for medical treatments. Both of them are currently being experimented with several patients, who have positive remarks on their experiences.
VR (Virtual reality) helps patients to get a stimulus from simulated situations. It’s very used in therapeutic sessions helping the users to relax and handle situations reproduced through a virtual environment. There’s also a potential to be explored in VR when it comes to surgical student training.
AR (Augmented reality), shows extra information on a digital device. In this case, the technology is often used to generate more details helpful for a patient’s condition. Some researchers predict that AR will come in handy on medicine packaging and make reading instructions clearer and more enjoyable.
In the end…
UX design trends are here to stay. Yet, when it comes to content, video is, without a doubt, among them. the main highlights for 2022.
BlueNovius has got your back when it comes to video marketing solutions to pharma brands.
Discover more about PubExplainer and MedExplainer by booking your call with us today!
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