Chronic Disease
Management
Creating a wellness app for patients to monitor and visualize their chronic illness and symptom triggers, helping them to gain greater control over their health.
Client: AIA Hong Kong
CDM, which stands for Chronic Disease Management, is a vital component of the AIA Connect wellness program. Patients can use the app to record and score their pain levels, track other symptoms, and complete weekly tasks and regular assessments.
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UI/UX Design
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Product Design
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User Research

Meeting with Client
During the initial client meeting, we focused on understanding their requirements, perspectives, and project objectives in the discovery stage. To help visualize the chronic disease management app, I drafted a quick flow chart. This approach helped to clarify the app's main features and functionalities and provided a useful reference tool for both the client and our team members throughout the development process.
User Surveys Analysis
During the initial phase, our focus was on addressing low back pain. The client had already conducted user surveys, and upon analyzing the findings and results, we gained valuable insights. These insights provided us with a deeper understanding of the users' needs, preferences, and pain points.
68%
expressed they are experiencing persistent low back pain for a duration of 3 months or more
75%
reported severe pain ( >7 out of 10 ) in the last 30 days
76%
of respondents indicated that pain intensity tracking was the most important feature for them
72%
expressed the need for a learning center within the app
Personas
Based on the collected data and insights, I developed detailed personas. These personas were created to humanize the data and provide a clear picture of the users' needs, goals and pain points.

Sarah Wong
Age: 45
Occupation: Office Manager
Hometown: Hong Kong
Family: Married
Education: Diploma
"I want to reclaim my life from chronic pain and find effective strategies to manage my low back pain."
Goals
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Reduce pain intensity and frequency.
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Improve posture at work.
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Access educational resources for self-care and pain management.
Frustrations
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Finding effective pain management strategies.
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Track pain levels over time, and compare current pain with previous records.
Sarah has been experiencing chronic low back pain for the past two years. It affects her daily activities, including sitting at her desk for long hours. She has sought medical advice and follows a treatment plan but struggles with pain management. Sarah is motivated to find ways to alleviate her pain.

Rachel Chan
Age: 32
Occupation: Nurse
Hometown: Hong Kong
Family: Single
Education: Bachelor’s degree
"I love my job, but I need to find ways to minimize the impact of low back pain."
Goals
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Expand knowledge of exercises and stretches specific to low back pain.
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Track pain patterns and triggers for better understanding
Frustrations
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Visual representation of the pain history
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Finding accessible and practical resources for pain management.
Rachel has been working as a nurse for 5 years, providing care to patients in a hospital setting. The physically demanding nature of her job, including lifting and assisting patients, has contributed to her chronic low back pain. Despite her pain, Rachel is dedicated to her profession and wants to find ways to manage her condition effectively.

David Yu
Age: 40
Occupation: Construction Worker
Hometown: Hong Kong
Family: Married
Education: High school
"Managing my chronic back pain is crucial for me to continue working in construction."
Goals
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Learn proper lifting techniques
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Prevent and manage low back pain to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.
Frustrations
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Balancing the physical demands of the construction industry with self-care and pain management.
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Discover exercises and techniques to strengthen his back and improve posture.
David has been working in the construction industry for over 15 years. The physically demanding nature of his job, involving lifting heavy materials and working in awkward positions, has resulted in chronic low back pain. David is eager to find practical solutions to manage his pain and improve his overall well-being to continue his career in construction.
Features Prioritization
During Phase 1 of our project, we had a detailed discussions with our client and a specialized low back pain doctor to determine the feature priorities for our app. Through this collaboration, we identified the "must-have" features that will be our primary focus during this phase. These essential features are crucial for delivering a functional and effective low back pain management solution to our users.
Must have
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User profile
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Assessment
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Daily pain tracker
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Daily mood tracker
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Tasks
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Progress
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Summary
Nice to have
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Personalized Recommendations
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Community Forum
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Stress Management
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Medication Reminders
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Exercise Video Library
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Exercise Reminder
Wireframes
By creating wireframes for CDM, we were able to establish a clear understanding of the app's layout, features, and user flow. This allowed us to refine the design and functionality of the app, identify any potential issues, and make necessary changes before moving forward with the development phase.
The app begins with an assessment to identify the user's condition and determine if they are eligible to use the app. Once the user is approved, they will be directed to a dashboard that includes daily tasks, the ability to track their daily mood, and access to the learning center. This approach ensures that users receive relevant information and tasks based on their specific condition and needs, providing a personalized and tailored user experience.
UI Design
I followed AIA's detailed design guidelines and library, including their prescribed color palette and font styles. This ensured visual consistency and brand coherence throughout the project.
First assessment
To ensure that only the right patients are given access to the dashboard, an assessment is implemented to filter out individuals with severe symptoms or other diseases. The assessment process is tailored to focus on specific conditions, such as low back pain, during the initial stage of the app's development. By using assessments to screen patients and guide them to the appropriate resources and tasks, the app can effectively provide personalized care and support to its users.
Dashboard
The dashboard provides users with an overview of their progress, allowing them to easily monitor their daily tasks and track their mood. Also, regular surveys are conducted to evaluate the patient's progress and determine if they have improved. Additionally, the learning center provides users with resources and information relevant to their condition, ensuring that they have access to the latest and most effective treatment options. By providing these features, the app helps patients take control of their health and well-being, leading to better outcomes and a more positive overall experience.