An opportunity for inclusive and human-centred design

Area of Science:

• Oral Health
• Design Studies
• Healthcare Systems Transformation

Background:

• Oral health systems face transformation due to person-centred care, demographic shifts, and technological advancements.
• Inclusive design and human-centred design offer relevant frameworks for addressing these changes.
• These design approaches focus on understanding diverse human needs, behaviors, and relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define and characterize inclusive and human-centred design.
• To explore the relevance of these design principles to oral healthcare transformations.
• To identify barriers and drivers for adopting design approaches in oral health.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and conceptual analysis of inclusive and human-centred design.
• Exploration of design capabilities and their application to oral health challenges.
• Discussion of adoption barriers and drivers within the healthcare context.

Main Results:

• Inclusive and human-centred design prioritize understanding multifaceted human needs and engaging diverse populations.
• These design disciplines have broad capabilities applicable to various outcome and contribution types in oral health.
• Key transformational, societal, and technological shifts in oral health align with design principles.

Conclusions:

• Inclusive and human-centred design are instrumental for transforming oral health systems.
• Adoption is influenced by awareness, understanding of design's value, disciplinary differences, and the healthcare system context.
• Further integration of design thinking can enhance person-centred care and address systemic challenges.