Addressing online-facilitated stigma: a co-design workshop among patients with lived experiences of dyspareunia

To engage individuals with lived experiences of dyspareunia in a co-design process to identify strategies for reducing stigma on digital health platforms.

Three virtual co-design workshops were conducted with 14 participants with lived experiences of dyspareunia. Data collection occurred in two phases. In phase 1, participants created individual prototypes of stigma-alleviating website designs. In phase 2, participants came together to collaboratively create a final design prototype using the individual designs as a guide. Participants then explained their reasons for selecting specific design elements and how these choices addressed stigma. The co-design workshops were recorded, transcribed verbatim and then analysed thematically.

The data revealed four overarching themes for developing destigmatising online platforms. These include providing extensive information on dyspareunia, designing for inclusivity, protecting users' identities, and offering interactive features to support information access and community connection.

This study offers patient-led strategies for mitigating stigma through online platforms. The findings may inform the design of digital health resources for individuals seeking sexual health services online, particularly those from stigmatised populations who use web-based platforms to navigate or supplement their healthcare needs.