Health Apps

Health app design: Improving UX/UI in medical applications

03/05/2024

User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) in medical applications are changing the way patients and professionals interact with health services. But why is this so important for the evolution of medical care?

UX/UI encompasses attractive visual design and intuitive touch interfaces that we expect from current applications. However, in the context of health, it goes a bit further. It’s about creating solutions that can save lives, enhance the quality of treatment, and ensure that both patients and healthcare professionals can navigate the apps effectively and without encountering obstacles in the experience. Poor design could lead to medication errors, misunderstandings in critical information, and ultimately, adverse health outcomes. Therefore, optimizing UX/UI in health applications is more than a matter of aesthetics, it is a necessity.

This article aims to establish the criteria for better UX/UI in medical applications. We will explore best practices and strategies, analyzing everything from fundamental design principles to innovations in this field. We will focus on how these practices contribute to health outcomes, thereby transforming the medical experience to make it safer, more efficient, and user-friendly.

What is UX/UI and why is it fundamental in medical apps?

Definition of UX/UI

UX (User Experience) and UI (User Interface) are two essential components when designing applications. The UI refers to the visual design and presentation of an application: how it looks and how the user interacts with it through elements like buttons, menus, and graphics. On the other hand, the UX encompasses the complete user experience when interacting with the application, from the ease of use to the speed of obtaining results, as well as the overall impression the app leaves. It involves understanding user needs to create products that are functional, rewarding, and easy to use.

Specific importance of UX/UI in the health business

In the context of medical applications, UX/UI is not just an additional component for user comfort. It is an aspect that can determine the success of treatment and patient safety. Below, we highlight three areas where UX/UI is key:

1. Treatment tracking

Good UX/UI in medical apps can be decisive between a patient who correctly follows a treatment and one who does not. Applications designed with clear interfaces and simplified processes ensure that patients understand their treatments and stay on the prescribed course. This is important in patients with chronic diseases where regular and precise treatment management is fundamental. 

2. User satisfaction

User satisfaction in medical apps is a factor that affects both the effectiveness of the treatment and the patient’s relationship with the application. A positive and enriching user experience motivates patients to engage more actively and consciously in managing their own health.When users are comfortable with an interface and its functionalities, they are more likely to make regular use of it, which in turn can lead to more effective monitoring of their medical progress. On the other hand, a frustrating or confusing user experience can lead to a decrease in app usage, negatively affecting the user as they tend to reduce their interaction with the app’s functions.

 3. Medical outcomes

Finally, effective UX/UI can have a direct impact on medical outcomes. Intuitive interfaces and well-designed user experiences reduce errors, improve accuracy in monitoring patient health, and facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers. This translates into more effective diagnoses, more timely interventions, and ultimately, an improvement in the quality of healthcare.

In summary, UX/UI in medical applications act as a bridge between medical technology and the user, ensuring that they are used correctly and effectively.

Basic principles of UX/UI design in health

Designing medical applications involves a series of unique considerations that differentiate these tools from other applications with fewer requirements. Clarity, accessibility, safety, and privacy are principles that guide the effective development of UX/UI in the health sector.

Clarity and simplicity

In the health sector, where precision and clarity can have direct consequences on users’ lives, the interface must be intuitively designed and easy to understand for all users, regardless of their level of technological knowledge. This involves:

Clean designs

Using a clear visual design facilitates understanding and use of the application. A well-defined visual structure guides the user through the most important functions effortlessly. This means:

• Visual hierarchy: Elements such as size, color, and position should be strategically used to highlight the most important functions or critical actions, such as emergency buttons or main calls to action.
• Spacing and grouping: Proper use of white space to avoid visual overload and logically grouping related elements help users process information quickly and with less effort.
• Consistent design: Maintaining a consistent style across all pages and functions of the application so that users do not have to re-learn different interfaces as they navigate through different sections.

Simplicity in navigation

Simplicity in navigation is crucial to avoid confusion and errors, especially in a medical environment where stress can be high and errors can have serious consequences. This includes:

• Simplified menus: The number of options in the main menus should be limited and use clear, direct language to describe each option. This reduces cognitive load, in addition to speeding up the user’s decision-making ability.
• Logical and predictable steps: Application processes should be organized in a way that follows a logical and natural flow. For example, in a medication management application, follow the order of checking pending medications, confirming intake, and recording any side effects.
• Progress indicators: Clearly show the user where they are in the process and how much is left to complete, which is especially useful in long forms or initial setup processes.

Clear instructions

Clarity of instructions to ensure that users understand how to interact with the application without misunderstandings is basic in these types of apps. Clear instructions should:

• Be concise: Avoid the use of technical or medical jargon that may be confusing for the average user, using instead simple and direct language.
• Be strategically located: Place instructions in locations where they are easily visible before the user initiates an action, such as at the beginning of a new section or before a form.
• Use visual aids: Incorporate icons or images that can help illustrate the instructions and make them more understandable. For example, a magnifying glass icon to suggest a search or a hand pointing to indicate the need to select an option.

Accessibility

Accessibility ensures that medical applications can be used by people with a wide range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive. This is a legal requirement in the European Union. Applications must comply with:

• Regulations: EN 301 549, European Standard for Accessibility for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Products and Services, and its Spanish regulatory equivalent, covered in Royal Decree 1112/2018. These encompass everything from color contrast and font size to intuitive navigation and support for screen readers.
• Universal design: Create interfaces that can be used by as many people as possible, without the need for adaptations. This includes interface customization options, such as adjustments in font size and color contrasts.

User needs analysis in health applications

To design medical applications that are effective and user-centered, it is necessary to start with a detailed analysis of the needs of the target audience. This process allows developers and designers to understand who will use the application, ensuring that the final product meets their specific needs and fulfills the function for which the app has been designed.

User study: methods and tools

User study is a fundamental part of UX/UI design, especially in a field as sensitive as health. Some effective methods and tools include:

• Interviews and focus groups: Directly interviewing patients, doctors, and other health personnel to gain insights into their experiences, needs, and current frustrations.
• Surveys: Collecting quantitative and qualitative information about user preferences and behaviors.
• Usability tests: Observing users as they interact with the application at different stages of development to identify friction points and areas for improvement.
• Competitive analysis: Studying existing applications to understand what works well and what can be improved.
• Data analysis: Using data from existing applications to understand how users interact with the app’s features and which features are most used.

User profile types

Each type of user has different needs and expectations that must be considered:

• Patients: May have various medical conditions and levels of technological skill. They seek applications that help them manage their health simply and effectively, facilitating the tracking of treatments, appointments, or medical results, among others.
• Doctors: Need tools that integrate easily into their workflows, helping them manage patient information, make diagnoses, or plan treatments, among others.
• Health personnel: Includes nurses, administrative staff, and other professionals who require quick access to relevant information and functions that allow them to support the doctor and patient effectively.

Creation of personas and usage scenarios

The creation of people and usage scenarios is a step that helps humanize the design process and ensure that the solutions are relevant:

• Personas: Creating UX personas is important in user experience design as it facilitates a deep understanding of user needs and behaviors, keeping the focus on them throughout the development process. This approach helps improve communication within the team, ensures design consistency, and allows for the prioritization of features according to user needs.
• Usage scenarios: Developing scenarios that describe how people would interact with the application in real situations. It should include scenarios for the different types of profiles.

Best practices for user interface design

The design of the user interface (UI) in medical applications must be intuitive and accessible to ensure effective and safe interaction. By following best practices in UI design, developers can create applications that meet medical requirements and those of their patients, offering a pleasant and frictionless experience. Here are some key aspects highlighted:

Simplicity and Readability

Choosing clear and legible fonts is fundamental, especially in medical applications where information must be understood quickly and unambiguously.

The use of colors should be strategic, for example, contrasting colors for action buttons or analogous colors for buttons with less urgent information, can guide the user intuitively through the app’s functionalities. Additionally, it is important to consider the color palette with users in mind who have vision problems like color blindness.

A clean and organized layout design helps avoid information overload. Critical elements such as emergency buttons or calls to action should be easily accessible, while secondary information should be kept in the background or accessible through additional menus.

Intuitive navigation

Menus should be simple and options clearly labeled to avoid confusion. It is preferable to limit the number of options available in the main menu to avoid overwhelming the user.

Buttons should be of an adequate size to facilitate interaction, especially for users with motor limitations. Additionally, their position should be consistent across all screens for a consistent user experience.

The structure of the application interface should follow a logic that reflects the end-user’s workflows, whether it is a patient logging symptoms or a doctor accessing patient data.

Interactive elements and tactile feedback

Interactive elements such as sliders, option buttons, and checkboxes should be designed to be easy to use for all types of users. They should provide immediate feedback, such as a color change or sound, to confirm the action.

Tactile feedback, such as vibrations when pressing a button, greatly enhances the experience for users with visual or auditory limitations. This type of feedback helps ensure that the user is aware that their interaction has been recorded by the application.

By implementing these best practices in user interface design, medical applications provide a safer and more effective experience, encouraging greater adherence to the use for which the app has been designed.

Importance of usability testing

Usability testing in medical applications is fundamental to UX/UI design, where ease of use can directly influence health outcomes:

• Continuous testing: Conducting usability tests at various stages of development helps identify issues of understanding and accessibility before the application reaches the hands of users.
• Ensuring compliance: Tests help ensure that the application meets accessibility standards and data security regulations required in the medical context.
• Incorporating feedback: Testing sessions allow collecting opinions and suggestions from real users, which is invaluable for adjusting and improving the application.

Using these elements along with usability testing, designers and developers can create functional, safe, and intuitive applications for users.

Effective strategies for user experience

Creating an optimal user experience (UX) in medical applications goes beyond just designing a pretty interface. It’s about making the interaction as efficient and enjoyable as possible. This is very important in applications where decisions and actions can have a significant impact on health. Below, we will explore effective strategies to enhance UX in health applications.

Personalization: adjustments according to user type

Effective medical applications must be able to adapt to different users to meet the specific needs of a wide variety, including patients, doctors, and caregivers. This involves offering customization options that range from the types of alerts and the information displayed to the frequency of interaction with the application.

Additionally, it is important to allow users to adjust settings according to their personal preferences, such as text size, background colors, and notification settings. These functionalities improve accessibility and increase the comfort of using the application, making the experience more personal and effective for each user.

Reduced cognitive load: minimizing distracting elements

Reducing cognitive load is very important to create medical applications that are effective and easy to use. This is achieved by minimizing distracting elements in the interface, which helps focus the user’s attention on important information and functionalities.

Optimizing workflows is a widely used strategy. By designing processes that require fewer steps to access and use the app’s functions, the mental load on the user is reduced, making navigation more intuitive and less stressful.

Additionally, providing alternative texts only when relevant can significantly improve the user experience. This ensures that users receive the necessary support without being overwhelmed with unnecessary information, allowing for cleaner and more efficient interaction with the application.

Design focused on critical tasks

Design focused on critical tasks aids in the development of effective and accessible medical applications. Prioritizing design around the tasks that users need to perform ensures that functions, such as logging glucose levels or calculating insulin doses in an app for diabetics, are quickly accessible and easy to use. This improves the efficacy of the application while increasing user safety by reducing the possibility of errors.

To ensure that these workflows are optimal, frequent usability testing with real users should be conducted. This approach allows for the identification and resolution of practical problems that may not be evident during the initial design and development stages. By observing how real users interact with the application, designers and developers can make precise adjustments that improve functionality and user experience.

Additionally, implementing a system of continuous feedback where users can report problems or suggest specific improvements in these types of tasks is another valuable strategy. This system involves users in the development process, increasing their satisfaction and adoption of the application.

Color psychology in medical app design

In the UX/UI design of medical applications, the selection of colors directly impacts the user’s experience and perception. The psychology of color influences how users interact with and respond to applications, especially in a context as sensitive as health.

Blue tones are predominantly chosen in the design of medical apps due to the sensations these colors evoke. Blue is widely recognized for conveying trust, serenity, and security. These qualities are essential in applications that manage medical information, as users need to feel secure and in control when handling such personal and delicate data. Additionally, blue is associated with clarity of thought and calmness, qualities that favor informed and conscious decision-making in medical scenarios.

On the other hand, strategic use of colors like green can also be beneficial in medical applications. Green, which symbolizes health, growth, and life, can help reinforce the message of well-being and recovery. It is a color that is also used to alleviate stress and provide a sense of tranquility and hope.

When interacting with interfaces that use these color ranges, users often feel a greater sense of confidence and comfort. This environment can facilitate a more positive user experience, promoting greater adoption and sustained use of the application.

Therefore, the design of color in medical applications should not only consider aesthetics but also how the selected colors support and enhance the application’s goals and the overall user experience. By choosing the right color palette, designers and developers can achieve both a pleasant interface and an effective association that fosters a relationship of trust and positivity with their users.

Tools and technologies in UX/UI design for medical applications

Next, we will look at some of the applications commonly used for UX/UI development and explore technologies that can be used to enhance the final experience.

Recommended software and platforms

For UX/UI designers and developers, choosing the right software is crucial for creating efficient and attractive interfaces. Some of the most used tools are:

• Adobe XD: Allows for designing, prototyping, and sharing user experiences with great ease. Its integration with other Adobe products facilitates the design workflow.
• Sketch: Highly valued for its simplicity and effectiveness, Sketch is a tool for interface design and rapid prototyping.
• Figma: As a cloud-based tool, Figma allows real-time collaboration, which is ideal for design teams working remotely. Its flexibility and powerful prototyping features make it a strong competitor in the market.
• InVision: Provides comprehensive tools for prototype design and collaboration, helping teams create more interactive and realistic user experiences.

Using AI and machine learning to enhance UX

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are changing the way applications are designed and interacted with, as they include functions such as:

• Automatic personalization: AI can analyze user data in real-time to adjust interfaces according to the needs and preferences of the user, thus enhancing the personalized experience.
• Predictions and suggestions: ML algorithms can predict user needs based on their interaction history, providing proactive suggestions and alerts to improve health management.
• User behavior analysis: AI can also help identify usage patterns and areas of frustration within the application, allowing for more informed and user-oriented design iterations.

The future of UX/UI design in the health sector

UX/UI design in the health sector continues to evolve, driven by technological advances and a growing interest in patient care personalization. New trends, the integration of wearable technologies and IoT, as well as future challenges and opportunities define the scenario in which designers and developers will work in the future. Let’s explore these aspects to better understand where this field is headed.

New trends

Technologies such as natural user interfaces, the integration of artificial intelligence, and augmented and virtual reality enrich the user experience through more intuitive and immersive interfaces, improving the efficacy of treatments and medical training. By transforming complex data into comprehensible and simple interactions, both diagnostic accuracy and the personalization of patient care are enhanced:

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)

These technologies are starting to become very important in the health sector, from training surgeons to therapies for patients. AR and VR offer new ways to visualize different scenarios and interact with medical information, which can improve the UX in educational and therapeutic applications.

Natural user interfaces (NUI)

The future of UX/UI design in health may include interfaces that allow interacting with applications in a more natural way, using gestures, voice, and gaze, adding new ways in which the user can interact with the application.

Integration of artificial intelligence (AI)

AI is being used to improve diagnostic accuracy and real-time treatment recommendations, which can transform the UX by providing decision support based on complex data in a way that is understandable to the user.

The role of wearable technology and IoT in health UX

The inclusion of digital technologies in the health sector has brought about more frequent use of wearable devices and the Internet of Things (IoT). These technologies are changing the way we interact with health tools, allowing continuous monitoring and offering a seamless and personalized user experience.

Through constant monitoring, seamless interaction, and personalized feedback, these tools open up possibilities for disease prevention and treatment. Each of these features contributes to a more connected health system that is responsive to patient needs:

• Continuous monitoring: Wearable devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) enable continuous health monitoring, providing real-time vital signs that can be of great help in managing diseases and their prevention.
• Seamless interaction: The integration of wearables into the UX of health applications allows a seamless user experience, where data flows automatically to and from devices, improving the convenience and effectiveness of health monitoring.
• Personalized feedback: Connected devices can provide instant feedback based on user activity, which encourages healthy behaviors and improves adherence to treatments and medical recommendations.

Conclusion

To ensure that medical applications remain accessible, intuitive, and safe for all users, it is important that UX/UI innovation keeps pace with technological advances. We are at a pivotal moment for technology in healthcare, where UX/UI can determine how these innovations will affect both patients and healthcare providers in the future.

UX/UI improves interaction with these technologies, which is why it is necessary for designers and developers to focus on creating user experiences that can anticipate and adapt to future challenges.

At GooApps, we understand the importance of well-designed UX/UI in the development of medical applications. These components are essential for the application to be easy to use and accessible, while also meeting expectations for functionality and safety. If you are looking to develop or improve a medical application, we invite you to contact us. By working together, we can ensure that your application meets the highest technical standards and provides a transformative user experience that has a significant impact on users’ lives.