Digital Health Co-Design
Review of Existing Tools
Review of Existing Tools
Reviewing existing tools is a method used to analyse and compare current technologies or interventions to understand their strengths, limitations, and gaps. In co-design studies, it can be applied in the Discover phase to generate insights that inform design requirements and inspire more effective and user-centred solutions.
Application Example
In a study developing an eHealth tool to support caregivers of functionally dependent older persons, researchers and stakeholders conducted a review of existing eHealth tools as part of the co-design sessions. Caregivers, community workers, and health and social service professionals analysed and compared available digital tools to evaluate their strengths, weaknesses, and gaps. This process allowed participants to reflect on what worked, what created barriers, and what was missing from existing solutions.
The insights from this comparative analysis directly informed the requirements and design priorities of the new eHealth tool. For example, participants highlighted functionality and content needs that were not adequately addressed elsewhere, which shaped the information architecture and guided prototyping. (Giroux et al., 2019)