Co-designing theoretically informed, conceptual prototypes for interventions to increase hand hygiene in hospital settings: a case study

Abstract

This case study describes a design thinking workshop to develop conceptual prototypes for interventions that may increase hand hygiene in hospital settings. The workshop was held in London, United Kingdom. The workshop brought together nurses, doctors, and infection prevention/control staff with experience working in hospital settings along with behavioural scientists and designers with experience developing theoretically informed interventions. After the workshop, a core design team synthesized the initial conceptual prototypes into a set of five more distinct conceptual prototypes that can inform future interventions. Stanford d.School’s five-stage model was used to capture the design thinking process. We propose additional workshops be conducted wherein multidisciplinary teams of relevant stakeholders (including patients) co-design novel solutions for enduring problems.

Keywords:

• Hand hygiene
• workshop
• hospital
• thematic synthesis

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Oonagh Comerford for creating the graphics accompanying each conceptual prototype.

Disclosure statement

The authors confirm that there are no relevant financial or non-financial competing interests to report.

Data availability statement

This is a case study. The authors confirm that the data supporting the case study are available within the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The Health Foundation under [grant number 7601], and by The National Institute for Health Research: Applied Research Collaboration-West Midlands [grant number NIHR200165]. The funders had no role in the design of the workshop or interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.

Notes on contributors

Krishane Patel

Krishane Patel is a cognitive/behavioural scientist interested in decision-making behaviour change related to health and finance. He wrote the initial draft of the manuscript.

Kelly Ann Schmidtke

Kelly Ann Schmidtke is a multidisciplinary behavioural scientist with expertise in health service improvement and public health. She revised this manuscript to increase its detail, clarity, and contact with relevant literature. She also coordinated inputs from all co-authors.

Umar Taj

Umar Taj is a behavioural scientist, co-founder of Nudgeathon interested in facilitating innovative thinking to solve wicked problems.

NobuLali Dangazele

NobuLali Dangazele is an actor by profession, founder of ShakeXperience, and co-founder of Nudgeathon. She is interested in facilitating collaborative and creative problem-solving.

Danial Read

Daniel Read is a professor of behavioural science and co-founder of Nudgeathon interested in promoting behaviour change for good.

Ivo Vlaev

Ivo Vlaev is a professor of behavioural science and co-creator of the MINDSPACE framework interested in the subtle factors that influence human behaviour and decision making.