GP practice and care has witnessed increased demand of 400% for menopause support.
This research exemplifies how we can design solutions that can offset some of this demand by encouraging curiosity, care and self-awareness as part of a journey rather than a waiting list.
It is conceptualised as
An immersive event to attend in person
A series of online workshops as part of wellness and care HR approaches in the workplace for employees
A Digital Holistic Health Tool that is provided through GP Practice and engaged with by the person.
Cultural Probes are useful design research tools that encourage expression by participants and inspire design direction. They can deliver insights by relying on various tools such as cameras, scrap books, postcards and diaries. The DYML cultural probe packs were issued to participants in advance of the event. This assisted with presenting opportunity for the participants to reflect and likewise reach out to the researcher to answer questions. It also presented an efficient means to have research material on the day of the event, to provoke discussion, encourage expression and determine unmet needs in social, work and health settings.
The cultural probes also provided great opportunity to relate the topic of menopause as a personal experience which appeared to be comfortably expressed through diarizing and documenting activity. One of the major findings to this initial in person immersive event was how women are affected by menopause in various settings, socially, at work and health. There was quite intimate and poignant expression captured which presented opportunity for a care design pathway to the workplace and with primary care/GP Practices.
The cultural probe was key and had been utilized by the attendees as a mobilizing element of motivation for the initial pilot event. It is now utilized as a digital cultural probe and evolved as part of a digital holistic health tool development for Primary Healthcare.