Enhancing Digital Health Literacy

My Role: Lead User Researcher and Designer (Synthetic dataset)

Timeline: 1 month

Background

The Problem (Based on a fictional scenario)


In a fictional scenario, a public health platform is aiming to improve their digital app called VitaLearn, aimed at improving health literacy among users. The platform provides educational content on nutrition, mental health, and preventive care through interactive articles, quizzes, and community discussions.

However, early analytics show low engagement, and users report difficulty finding relevant content. My task is to conduct user research to understand pain points and recommend design improvements.

The Solution

Identify barriers preventing young adults from engaging with the platform.

  • Understand users' preferences for consuming health information (e.g., video, text, interactive content).

  • Assess the usability and navigation experience of the platform.

  • Provide design recommendations to improve engagement and retention.

Research Toolkit

Qualtrics

STATA

Microsoft Office Suite

Step 1: Select Participants & Method

Target Users:

    • Young adults (18–30 years old)

    • College students, working professionals, and individuals with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds

    • Individuals interested in improving their health knowledge but facing digital literacy challenges

  • Research Methods:

    1. User Interviews (5–7 participants)

      • Questions about health information-seeking behaviors

      • Experience with similar digital platforms

      • Preferred content format (e.g., videos, infographics, articles)

    2. Usability Testing (8–10 participants)

      • Observe how users navigate the platform

      • Identify pain points in information retrieval

      • Collect feedback on UI/UX elements

    3. Survey (50–100 responses)

      • Assess general digital health literacy levels

      • Gather preferences for content delivery

      • Evaluate perceived ease of use and satisfaction

  • Example Research Findings (Synthesized Data):

    • Pain Point: 60% of users struggle to find content relevant to their needs.

    • Content Preference: 75% prefer short, engaging videos over long articles.

    • Navigation Issue: Users find the search function ineffective due to unclear filtering options.

    • Engagement Barrier: Some users are overwhelmed by too much medical jargon without clear explanations.

Step 2: Analysis

In STATA, the survey results were analyzed and exported to Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word for visualizations on user demographics.

Step 2: Results

Summary of User Insights Based on Findings

The analysis provided key insights into the characteristics and engagement patterns of our users, helping us tailor content more effectively.

  • Education Levels: A majority of users (42%) have a bachelor's degree, followed by 25% with a master's degree and 18% with some college experience. Only 10% have a high school diploma or less, while 5% hold a doctoral degree. This suggests our audience is highly educated, meaning detailed, research-driven content may be well-received, but accessibility should still be considered for those with less formal education.

  • Health Interests: Users engage most with mental health (35%), followed by nutrition (25%) and fitness (20%). Topics like chronic disease prevention (10%) and public health policies (10%) receive less attention. This indicates that prioritizing mental health and nutrition-focused content may drive engagement, while strategies to increase interest in policy-related topics could be beneficial.

  • Engagement Levels: Engagement is moderate overall, with 45% of users engaging occasionally, 30% engaging frequently, and 25% engaging rarely. This suggests a sizable portion of the audience interacts with content but not consistently, highlighting an opportunity to improve retention through more interactive or personalized approaches.

  • Age Distribution: Users are predominantly ages 25-34 (40%), followed by 35-44 (30%). The younger (18-24) and older (45+) age groups make up smaller portions at 15% each. This indicates that content should cater primarily to young and mid-career adults, focusing on health concerns and lifestyles relevant to these age groups.

Why This Matters

These findings help us refine engagement strategies by aligning content with user demographics and preferences. With a well-educated audience and a strong interest in mental health and nutrition, content should be insightful yet accessible. Enhancing engagement among less active users and tailoring messages to the dominant age groups can further strengthen our connection with the audience.

Step 3: Conceptualization

Based on the user findings, ideas for the new app concept can be created.

Homepage Layout Concept

Sections to Include:

  1. Hero Section – Eye-catching banner with a tagline and CTA (e.g., “Empower Your Health Knowledge” + “Get Started” button).

  2. Search Bar – Simple, prominent search functionality.

  3. Key Features – Visual cards highlighting:

    • Interactive Quizzes

    • Video-Based Learning

    • Community Discussions

  4. Personalized Recommendations – Section for suggested articles, quizzes, or videos based on user interest.

  5. Testimonials & Impact – User feedback to build credibility.

  6. Footer – Quick links to resources, privacy policy, and social media.