Participatory Design, Project Clients, and Healthcare User Groups

Area of Science:

• Healthcare facility design
• Participatory design processes

Background:

• This study is the third in a series examining user group impact on healthcare facility design.
• Previous research focused broadly on users; this study specifically targets project clients' views.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of project clients in healthcare facility design.
• To identify lessons for improving the user group process in Australian and New Zealand publicly funded healthcare projects.

Main Methods:

• Utilized findings from prior research and an expanded literature review on participatory design.
• Conducted semistructured interviews with selected project clients.
• Analyzed interview transcripts using reflexive thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Identified that numerous stakeholders influence design decisions, often without formal recognition.
• Found a lack of documented history, rationale, or evaluations for the user group process.
• Provided actionable suggestions for enhancing the user group process in healthcare projects.

Conclusions:

• Evaluating and learning from alternative approaches can improve user group process outcomes.
• Implementing a project charter and terms of reference can enhance decision-making.
• Developing best practice guidelines and education for user group participants is recommended.