CASE STUDIES
PILL PLEASE APP
Modern medicine allows people to fight many diseases more effectively, but with this also comes the problem of polypharmacy, i.e. taking many different drugs. According to the National Health Service’s 2020 report, more than half of Poles have been ill with at least one lifestyle disease in the past five years. 4.5 million people bought prescriptions for five or more active substances in six months.
Author | Bartłomiej Biegun |
|---|---|
Services | UX, Research, Product Design |
Used Apps | Mural, Figma, Google Meet, Excel |
Problem Genesis
Research confirms that the problem is real. More than half (56 per cent) of Poles have suffered or are still suffering from at least one disease of civilisation in the last five years, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes or depression. The number of people continuously taking medication continues to rise. 4.5 million people bought prescriptions for five or more active substances in a six-month period. (NHF report: Everything you need to know about poly-pragmasy, 2020).
The problem I aimed to solve began with a broad exploration of user behavior and daily challenges surrounding medication adherence. I started by developing a set of research questions that would guide my investigation, focusing on identifying the key factors that cause people to forget or delay taking their medications.
Once I had defined the core research questions, I concentrated on finding a representative research group. I carefully selected individuals who fit the target user profile—people who regularly take medication and experience challenges in maintaining consistency. Conducting in-depth interviews (IDIs) allowed me to gain deeper insights into their daily routines, obstacles they face, and emotional responses related to medication adherence.
Through this process, I was able to gather valuable qualitative data, providing a clear understanding of the problem’s roots and laying the groundwork for the design and development of a more user-centric solution.
Research Analysis
The research provided me with valuable insights into the habits, challenges, and pain points of the respondents. Each participant shared a unique story, marked by different emotional experiences when learning about their illness and the need to take medications regularly. These personal accounts allowed me to address the key research questions effectively. So, what did I uncover?
Among the 11 respondents, 7 reported that taking medication was a source of stress or frustration. Many expressed that medications felt like a restriction—whether it required them to return home at specific times or interfered with weekend plans or longer absences. This created a sense of inconvenience and limitation in their daily lives.
All respondents mentioned storing their medications in designated spaces such as cabinets, shelves, boxes, or specialized containers—their „home pharmacies.” One participant, Mrs. Krystyna, kept a stockpile of medications in a larger container, while carrying her daily dose in a specially designated pouch.
Interestingly, 8 out of 11 participants admitted that at some point, they unexpectedly ran out of medication. While some were able to quickly contact their doctor for a new prescription, others faced challenges in accessing their medication. Those who experienced this issue expressed feelings of frustration, particularly regarding the financial cost of the missed doses, and fear about delayed appointments with their doctors, which caused further anxiety.
Wireframes and Prototyping
Once I had a clear understanding of the users’ challenges and pain points, I began the wireframing and prototyping phase. My first step was to translate the insights from the research into initial wireframes, focusing on creating a simple and intuitive interface that would address users’ needs without adding unnecessary complexity. These wireframes acted as blueprints for the structure of the app, outlining key functionalities such as medication reminders, tracking, and easy access to prescriptions.
I iterated on these wireframes through multiple feedback sessions, refining the layout to ensure a smooth user flow. Once I was satisfied with the basic structure, I moved on to prototyping. The first interactive prototype allowed me to test early design assumptions with potential users. During this stage, I focused on creating an intuitive user experience, especially around key features like scheduling medications, receiving reminders, and handling unexpected prescription shortages.
Solution
In the course of developing a suitable solution, a series of studies were carried out to explain the problem of the increasing use of medicines by Poles and to provide an insight into the daily process of dealing with illness. Desk research and in-depth interviews (IDI) with respondents were used to find an appropriate solution. The research was conducted in person or using the Google Meet tool.
Features
Effective notification system
Notifications that clearly and unambiguously remind users that they need to take their medication at the given dose. Notifications require the user to take an action to confirm that the medication has been taken.
Building positive habits
The easy-to-use functionality of the planner and the view of upcoming medication events make it more user-friendly for patients to start the pharmacotherapy process and develop appropriate habits.
Controlling the quantity of medicines in the medicine cabinet
The user has full control over the number of medicines in their home medicine cabinet. By looking at the status table for each medicine on his phone, he does not have to make a special trip to the medicine drawer.
Medical appointments
Users who are, as it were, often condemned to sitting in doctors’ surgeries can support their therapy with the use of adding medical appointments to the app’s schedule.
Measurements and statistics
The Pill Please app allows measurements of key indicators to be added to the app. Among the measurements that can be added are glucose, temperature, weight, saturation and pulse and blood pressure.
Testing and Iteration
Reaching the testing phase of the Pill Please app was a significant milestone, especially after the extensive journey that both the design and research processes had taken. Preparing for this stage required many hours of carefully conducting in-depth interviews aimed at identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the solution. These tests provided crucial feedback that informed the refinement of the app, ensuring it was tailored to the real-world needs of the users.
Pill Please is designed to help users manage their medication schedules, track inventory in their „home pharmacy,” receive reminders for doses, and book doctor appointments. The goal of the usability testing was to verify the functionality of these key features and confirm that the design assumptions held true in practice.
The prototype, created in Figma, enabling it to run on Android devices. Between May 15 and May 26, I conducted usability tests with multiple users, gathering nine screen recordings paired with audio files that captured their feedback and interactions.
Based on these insights, I made slight interface adjustments to improve user flow and ensure ease of use. The testing process reinforced the overall design direction, while the refinements further enhanced the user experience. I am confident that the Pill Please app will help users organize their medication schedules and health-related tasks effectively.
Project in details
- Project Name: Pill Please App
- Duration: October 2022 – July 2023
- Research Phase: In-depth interviews (IDIs) conducted with 11 participants
- Key Insights: Identified stress and frustration related to medication schedules and unexpected shortages
- Testing Period: March 15 – May 26, 2023
- Prototype Development Tool: Figma
- Prototyping Platforms: Figma (tested on Android devices)
- Usability Testing: 9 screen recordings with separate audio feedback sessions
- Core Features:
- Medication scheduling
- Inventory tracking in „home pharmacy”
- Reminder notifications
- Doctor appointment scheduling
- Tools Used: Figma, Miro (for brainstorming), Google Forms (for initial surveys), Google Meets (for conducting interviews)
- Role: UX Researcher, UX Designer, UI Designer
- Outcome: Iterative design improvements based on user feedback; minor interface adjustments for improved usability