User-Centric Design in Digital Public Health: Challenges and Opportunities in an Era of Disruptive Innovation

Mission and objectives

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In recent years, amid the rapid proliferation of digital public health technologies (including apps, chatbots, health monitoring and surveillance platforms and wearables), critical calls have increased from research networks, civil society and patient advocacy groups worldwide, for the involvement of patients and communities as strategic domain experts and stakeholders to be integrated into the design and implementation of technologies for health conditions and challenges.

Yet much of the critical and evolving research and literature on the challenges and opportunities of user-centric design in digital public health has remained largely siloed; first within separate research disciplines and further by research and work being undertaken in separate contexts in Global North and Global South settings.

Moreover, while the importance and understanding of lived experiences and local expertise of patients and communities in the design of health technologies have gained increased traction, entrenched health, social and political inequities as well as intensifying global forces of populism, Tech oligarchies and health disinformation threaten to further weaken community engagement, trust and health access needed in the uptake of digital public health technologies.

This workshop will serve as a catalyst in facilitating an interdisciplinary assessment and dialogue of the challenges and opportunities of user-centric approaches in the design of digital public health technologies in an era of disruptive innovation and complex public health challenges.

It will do so by bringing together leading researchers and networks across the domains of digital health, global health, public health, science and technology studies and the social sciences to present and consider ongoing user-centric design focused research from across both high-income and low- and middle-income country contexts, facilitating key opportunities for collaborative co-learning and knowledge exchange among digital health researchers, practitioners and communities.

Building from the research focus, the objectives of this workshop are:

1. To analyse and collaboratively discuss the opportunities and challenges of user-centric approaches and frameworks in the design of digital public health technologies, drawing from ongoing interdisciplinary global research.
   
2. To consider key conceptual frameworks, theories and research methodologies and methods required in the promotion of inclusive and equitable user-centric design in digital public health.
   
3. To understand how both practices of user- centric design and the development of public health technologies are increasingly being re-made in an era of disruptive innovation and complex health challenges.

Intended audience

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This workshop will serve as a strategic forum in which to engage research communities and networks, health practitioners and patients in interdisciplinary analysis and dialogue on the state of play of user-centric design of digital public health technologies which integrates a global perspective.

It is envisioned that workshop participants will represent globally leading research institutions alongside contacts from digital health providers and start-ups, and patient advocacy and interest groups.

Expected Outcomes

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This workshop will establish and extend a dynamic and ongoing interdisciplinary dialogue required for successfully and sustainably integrating and involving patients and communities in the design, uptake and evaluation of digital public health technologies.

Specifically, the outcomes of this workshop will:

1. Identify key enablers and barriers to integrating user-centric approaches in the design of public health technologies.
2. Promote longer-term discussions and knowledge exchange between key global research networks, experts and communities active within user-centric design and global and public health.
3. Share and promote practical tools, research resources, and user centred methods across interdisciplinary networks to strengthen community and patient engagement in the design, implementation, and evaluation of digital health technologies.
4. Develop a collaborative, co-authored piece (i.e. commentary or perspective piece) for submission within a peer-reviewed journal, highlighting key messages, focus, workshop findings and examining critical transformations around user -centric design in digital public health in an era of disruptive innovation.

Format and schedule

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This workshop will be delivered in two sessions.

Session 1: Four participants will be invited to share recent or ongoing research further to the focus of the workshop. This may include paper abstracts, drafts, or published work. Each presentation will be followed by a brief Q&A to encourage reflection and exchange.

A short coffee break will conclude this session.

Session 2: Six participants will then engage in an interactive roundtable discussion focused on bringing together key insights, identifying shared challenges, and exploring opportunities for sustainable collaboration across disciplines and communities at the interface of digital public health and inclusive design of technologies.

Duration	Session
15 minutes	Arrival and introduction remarks by workshop chairs
50 minutes	Research presentations (4x10min)
10 minutes	Coffee break
60 minutes	Interactive roundtable Closing remarks by workshop chairs

Speakers

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