Designing Digital Infant Wellness Updates for NICU Families
Designing Digital Infant Wellness Updates for NICU Families
In partnership with BC Women's Hospital
In partnership with BC Women's Hospital
In partnership with BC Women's Hospital
How should digital infant wellness updates be communicated to families navigating the stress and uncertainty of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)?
How should digital infant wellness updates be communicated to families navigating the stress and uncertainty of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)?
I interviewed former NICU caregivers to understand how they would like digital infant wellness updates to be communicated and used those findings to develop design considerations for a proposed Infant Wellness Status Tool.
I interviewed former NICU caregivers to understand how they would like digital infant wellness updates to be communicated and used those findings to develop design considerations for a proposed Infant Wellness Status Tool.
I interviewed former NICU caregivers to understand how they would like digital infant wellness updates to be communicated and used those findings to develop design considerations for a proposed Infant Wellness Status Tool.
At a Glance
At a Glance
Role: Digital Health Research Assistant
Role: Digital Health Research Assistant
Role: Digital Health Research Assistant
Timeline: 6 months
Timeline: 6 months
Timeline: 6 months
Participants: 10 former NICU families
Participants: 10 former NICU families
Participants: 10 former NICU families
Methods: Interviews; thematic analysis
Methods: Interviews; thematic analysis
Methods: Interviews; thematic analysis
Tools: NVivo, Zoom
Tools: NVivo, Zoom
Tools: NVivo, Zoom
Outcome: Design considerations
Outcome: Design considerations
Outcome: Design considerations
My Role
My Role
My Role
Study Design
Study Design
Study Design
Co-developed the interview guide and study materials
Co-developed the interview guide and study materials
Co-developed the interview guide and study materials
Data Collection
Data Collection
Data Collection
Recruited participants & conducted 10 interviews
Recruited participants & conducted 10 interviews
Recruited participants & conducted 10 interviews
Analysis
Analysis
Analysis
Analysis
Performed thematic analysis using NVivo
Performed thematic analysis using NVivo
Performed thematic analysis using NVivo
Synthesis
Synthesis
Synthesis
Synthesis
Translated findings into design considerations
Translated findings into design considerations
Translated findings into design considerations
Dissemination
Dissemination
Dissemination
Dissemination
Led first author manuscript and participated in a interview
Led first author manuscript and participated in a interview
Led first author manuscript and participated in a interview
Context & Challenge
Context & Challenge
Context & Challenge
Context
Context
Context
NICU families often receive updates about their infant's health through time-limited conversations with their care team that can involve complex medical information.
NICU families often receive updates about their infant's health through time-limited conversations with their care team that can involve complex medical information.
NICU families often receive updates about their infant's health through time-limited conversations with their care team that can involve complex medical information.
However, families may not always be able to attend these conversations, and processing complex information can be difficult in an already stressful environment.
However, families may not always be able to attend these conversations, and processing complex information can be difficult in an already stressful environment.
However, families may not always be able to attend these conversations, and processing complex information can be difficult in an already stressful environment.
Opportunity
Opportunity
Opportunity
We proposed a digital Infant Wellness Status Tool, a tablet in each family's NICU room that could deliver infant wellness updates between in-person conversations with the care team.
We proposed a digital Infant Wellness Status Tool, a tablet in each family's NICU room that could deliver infant wellness updates between in-person conversations with the care team.
We proposed a digital Infant Wellness Status Tool, a tablet in each family's NICU room that could deliver infant wellness updates between in-person conversations with the care team.
Research Challenge
Research Challenge
Research Challenge
Before designing this tool, we needed to understand whether families wanted digital infant wellness updates, and if so, how they wanted those updates to be communicated.
Before designing this tool, we needed to understand whether families wanted digital infant wellness updates, and if so, how they wanted those updates to be communicated.
Before designing this tool, we needed to understand whether families wanted digital infant wellness updates, and if so, how they wanted those updates to be communicated.
My Research Approach & Rationale
My Research Approach & Rationale
My Research Approach & Rationale
Method
Method
Method
We conducted 60-minute semi-structured interviews over Zoom with 10 former NICU caregivers, exploring their NICU experiences, communication needs, and reactions to the proposed Infant Status Tool.
We conducted 60-minute semi-structured interviews over Zoom with 10 former NICU caregivers, exploring their NICU experiences, communication needs, and reactions to the proposed Infant Status Tool.
We conducted 60-minute semi-structured interviews over Zoom with 10 former NICU caregivers, exploring their NICU experiences, communication needs, and reactions to the proposed Infant Status Tool.
Analysis
Analysis
Analysis
We transcribed and analyzed interviews in NVivo using inductive coding and thematic analysis to identify patterns across families’ experiences and needs.
We transcribed and analyzed interviews in NVivo using inductive coding and thematic analysis to identify patterns across families’ experiences and needs.
We transcribed and analyzed interviews in NVivo using inductive coding and thematic analysis to identify patterns across families’ experiences and needs.
Rationale
Rationale
Rationale
Semi-structured interviews were chosen to prioritize caregivers’ voices and to help us understand how their NICU experiences shaped what they valued and needed from the tool.
Semi-structured interviews were chosen to prioritize caregivers’ voices and to help us understand how their NICU experiences shaped what they valued and needed from the tool.
Semi-structured interviews were chosen to prioritize caregivers’ voices and to help us understand how their NICU experiences shaped what they valued and needed from the tool.
Our analysis approach allowed us to identify common needs across families based on what they shared, rather than starting with assumptions about what the tool should include.
Our analysis approach allowed us to identify common needs across families based on what they shared, rather than starting with assumptions about what the tool should include.
Our analysis approach allowed us to identify common needs across families based on what they shared, rather than starting with assumptions about what the tool should include.
Participant Voices
Participant Voices
Participant Voices
Families shared how challenging it can be to process clinical information in the NICU, and what kind of support made the biggest difference during their stay.
Families shared how challenging it can be to process clinical information in the NICU, and what kind of support made the biggest difference during their stay.
Families shared how challenging it can be to process clinical information in the NICU, and what kind of support made the biggest difference during their stay.
"Im feeling less benefits for when you're there in person, because I would value the in-person communication higher."
"Im feeling less benefits for when you're there in person, because I would value the in-person communication higher."
"Im feeling less benefits for when you're there in person, because I would value the in-person communication higher."
——
——
Former NICU Caregiver
Former NICU Caregiver
Former NICU Caregiver
"Health details should be communicated using very simple, quick language, that is easy to understand."
"Health details should be communicated using very simple, quick language, that is easy to understand."
"Health details should be communicated using very simple, quick language, that is easy to understand."
——
——
Former NICU Caregiver
Former NICU Caregiver
Former NICU Caregiver
"When people reinforce that no, they're your children, you can hold your children, it made me feel like I could do something for them."
"When people reinforce that no, they're your children, you can hold your children, it made me feel like I could do something for them."
"When people reinforce that no, they're your children, you can hold your children, it made me feel like I could do something for them."
——
——
Former NICU Caregiver
Former NICU Caregiver
Former NICU Caregiver
"I found a lot of comfort in speaking to parents who have children with the same condition, and what their experiences were."
"I found a lot of comfort in speaking to parents who have children with the same condition, and what their experiences were."
"I found a lot of comfort in speaking to parents who have children with the same condition, and what their experiences were."
——
——
Former NICU Caregiver
Former NICU Caregiver
Former NICU Caregiver
Key Insights
Key Insights
Key Insights
01
01
01
The tool should support, not replace, human communication
The tool should support, not replace, human communication
Families wanted the tool to provide digital updates between in-person conversations, with the ability to revisit this information on their own time.
Families wanted the tool to provide digital updates between in-person conversations, with the ability to revisit this information on their own time.
Families wanted the tool to provide digital updates between in-person conversations, with the ability to revisit this information on their own time.
02
02
02
Families need clear information, not less information
Families need clear information, not less information
Families wanted the tool to provide plain-language updates without losing important details about their infant's health and care.
Families wanted the tool to provide plain-language updates without losing important details about their infant's health and care.
Families wanted the tool to provide plain-language updates without losing important details about their infant's health and care.
03
03
03
Families want ways to participate in their infant's care
Families want ways to participate in their infant's care
Families wanted the tool to also provide them with guidance on how to safely contribute to their infant's care.
Families wanted the tool to also provide them with guidance on how to safely contribute to their infant's care.
Families wanted the tool to also provide them with guidance on how to safely contribute to their infant's care.
04
04
04
Families need support beyond infant wellness updates
Families need support beyond infant wellness updates
Families wanted the tool to also provide resources that helped them understand and navigate the NICU environment.
Families wanted the tool to also provide resources that helped them understand and navigate the NICU environment.
Families wanted the tool to also provide resources that helped them understand and navigate the NICU environment.
Research to Design
Research to Design
Research to Design
Each insight was translated into a concrete design direction for the proposed Infant Wellness Status Tool.
Each insight was translated into a concrete design direction for the proposed Infant Wellness Status Tool.
Each insight was translated into a concrete design direction for the proposed Infant Wellness Status Tool.
01
01
01
Complement in-person communication
Complement in-person communication
Complement in-person communication
→
→
DESIGN DIRECTION
DESIGN DIRECTION
Make current and previous wellness updates available on demand, as a complement to in-person communication.
Make current and previous wellness updates available on demand, as a complement to in-person communication.
Make current and previous wellness updates available on demand, as a complement to in-person communication.
02
02
02
Make information clear and useful
Make information clear and useful
Make information clear and useful
→
→
DESIGN DIRECTION
DESIGN DIRECTION
Explain what changed, what the care team is monitoring, and what families can expect next.
Explain what changed, what the care team is monitoring, and what families can expect next.
Explain what changed, what the care team is monitoring, and what families can expect next.
03
03
03
Support families' involvement
Support families' involvement
Support families' involvement
→
→
DESIGN DIRECTION
DESIGN DIRECTION
Give personalized care suggestions tailored to the infant's wellness status and let families track care activities.
Give personalized care suggestions tailored to the infant's wellness status and let families track care activities.
Give personalized care suggestions tailored to the infant's wellness status and let families track care activities.
04
04
04
Help families navigate the NICU
Help families navigate the NICU
→
→
DESIGN DIRECTION
DESIGN DIRECTION
Provide resources to help families understand the NICU environment and connect with peer support.
Provide resources to help families understand the NICU environment and connect with peer support.
Provide resources to help families understand the NICU environment and connect with peer support.
Impact
Impact
Impact
Design Direction
Design Direction
Design Direction
Developed family-informed design considerations for a future Infant Status Tool
Developed family-informed design considerations for a future Infant Status Tool
Publication
Publication
Publication
Led first author manuscript publication
Led first author manuscript publication
Knowledge Sharing
Knowledge Sharing
Knowledge Sharing
Research featured in a Research Round and interview at Women's Health Research Institute & BC Women's Hospital
Research featured in a Research Round and interview at Women's Health Research Institute & BC Women's Hospital
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
This project reinforced the importance of letting research shape the problem, not just the solution.
This project reinforced the importance of letting research shape the problem, not just the solution.
This project reinforced the importance of letting research shape the problem, not just the solution.
We began by exploring how infant wellness updates should be communicated, but families' experiences revealed needs that extended beyond information delivery. Their priorities shaped not only how information should be communicated, but what a digital tool should support in the first place.
We began by exploring how infant wellness updates should be communicated, but families' experiences revealed needs that extended beyond information delivery. Their priorities shaped not only how information should be communicated, but what a digital tool should support in the first place.
We began by exploring how infant wellness updates should be communicated, but families' experiences revealed needs that extended beyond information delivery. Their priorities shaped not only how information should be communicated, but what a digital tool should support in the first place.
© 2026 Jeneesha Dhaliwal. All Rights Reserved.