AED MAP

In this solo thesis project, my goal was to enhance the survival rate of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest by promoting the utilization of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public areas. The project encompassed a comprehensive exploration of the current distribution and usage of public AEDs in Sweden, as well as insights into the perceptions of AED usage among laypeople. The ultimate objective was to create a set of functions seamlessly integrated into Google Maps, empowering bystanders to access AEDs and facilitating the process of locating and retrieving these life-saving devices.

My role involved conducting the entire design process independently, covering aspects such as user research, envisioning, prototype development, and evaluation.

Methods employed during the project included a literature review, Epistolary Interviews, Thematic Analysis, User Journey Map creation, and Heuristic Evaluation.

The project spanned four months, during which I worked diligently to contribute to improving emergency response measures in public spaces.

BACKGROUND

what is cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart abruptly begins to beat in a chaotic rhythm, leading to a cessation of beating. If not promptly and properly treated, cardiac arrest can result in death. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has emerged as a significant cause of mortality in various countries.

what is AED?
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable device designed to defibrillate and restore the heart to an effective rhythm. It provides straightforward audio and visual instructions, allowing even laypeople to operate it with ease. Early use of an AED significantly increases the chances of survival.

however!
Despite widespread installation of AEDs in Sweden and ongoing efforts to increase their numbers, their utilization remains surprisingly low. This discrepancy raises the alarming prospect that victims of OHCA, potentially located just 200 meters away from an available AED, may perish due to bystanders overlooking the device.

what can I do?
To address this issue and potentially save lives, let's explore how we can collectively increase awareness and encourage the effective use of AEDs in emergency situations.

DESIGN THINKING PROCESS

Empathise

Literature Review

In my research on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) incidence and the distribution of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in Sweden, I found that the occurrence of OHCA in private places, such as homes and gardens, is slightly higher than in public locations. However, the installation of AEDs is notably higher in public areas. Additionally, the statistics indicate that in public areas, collapses are more frequently witnessed, and AEDs are more readily accessible. Consequently, I decided to focus my research specifically on public areas.

One significant barrier I identified in accessing AEDs is their availability, which is heavily dependent on the opening hours of public places like train stations, schools, and shopping malls.

Furthermore, insights from emergency dispatch centers in Sweden revealed two primary obstacles to effectively referring callers to AEDs. First, it is common for the bystander witnessing an OHCA to be alone at the scene, and leaving to locate an AED would interrupt crucial CPR efforts. Second, communication issues during emergency calls can sometimes mislead dispatchers in making accurate decisions.

Moreover, the process of bystanders waiting to be referred to the nearest AED often takes more time than cardiac arrest victims can endure. These findings highlighted crucial challenges in the current emergency response system, prompting a need for innovative solutions to improve AED accessibility and utilization in public spaces.

Interview

For the second part of my research, I conducted interviews with 15 students from Uppsala University to gain insights into bystanders' thoughts on using Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to save lives. I selected students as participants for two main reasons: firstly, as students, they tend to be more open-minded towards new technologies, and secondly, they all have the potential to be witnesses of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs). The interviews were designed to address four key objectives:

Assess their basic knowledge about AEDs.
Explore their willingness to use AEDs.
Conduct a short brainstorming session on their potential actions and emotions when encountering an OHCA.
Elicit insights and suggestions regarding AEDs.

These interviews aimed to provide a qualitative understanding of the perceptions and attitudes of potential bystanders, especially among a demographic likely to be technologically inclined and responsive to innovative solutions.

Define

Thematic Analysis

User Journey Map

The Thematic Analysis method proved instrumental in processing the collected data, allowing for the identification of patterns and the derivation of themes from qualitative information. This qualitative research method facilitated the classification and interpretation of data characteristics, leading to a deeper understanding of the issue at hand.

The results of the analysis revealed several key findings:

Almost all interviewees lacked experience in dealing with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) cases, and only one had encountered such a situation, with the responder not considering the use of an AED.
Most participants tended to seek help, such as calling 112 or turning to others, rather than immediately choosing an AED as their first response.
Few participants had received CPR training, and none had practical experience operating AEDs.
Over half of the participants lacked knowledge about what an AED is and how to use it.
Most participants had never noticed AED devices in their surroundings.
All participants had either no knowledge or vague knowledge about the locations of AEDs in the city, indicating a lack of awareness regarding where to find one when needed.
Despite their willingness to use AEDs to save the lives of OHCA victims, participants expressed concerns about their ability to find and operate the devices, as well as uncertainties about the effectiveness and efficiency of managing them.
Participants expressed a strong desire for education on AEDs to enhance their ability to operate these devices effectively and potentially save lives.

In summary, while participants exhibited a genuine willingness to use AEDs to save lives in OHCA situations, their lack of knowledge, experience, and awareness hindered their ability to do so. The expressed desire for AED education underscores the importance of initiatives to enhance public understanding and competence in managing these life-saving devices.

To gain a comprehensive understanding of a bystander's experience in an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) situation, I created a user journey map. This map depicted a scenario in which a bystander, lacking any knowledge of AEDs, discovers an OHCA scene while being alone. The user journey map systematically illustrated each action the bystander would take and the corresponding emotions experienced throughout the process.

The primary goal of this exercise was to identify potential pain points that might impede the bystander's ability to rescue the OHCA victim. By visualizing the entire journey, I aimed to uncover specific challenges and moments of hesitation, providing valuable insights into areas where design interventions and improvements could be introduced. This user-centric approach helps in identifying key touchpoints for intervention and shaping effective solutions to enhance the bystander's response in OHCA scenarios.

Ideate

Thematic Analysis

Affinity Diagram

Based on the identified deficiencies in implementing Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in Sweden and the insights gained from the user study, the most significant obstacles hindering bystanders from using AEDs to rescue out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) victims are:

Bystander Isolation: Bystanders are often alone at the OHCA scene, and leaving to locate an AED might interrupt crucial CPR efforts.
Time Constraints: The process of bystanders calling the emergency center, waiting to be referred to the nearest AED, and inaccurate descriptions may consume more time than cardiac arrest victims can endure.
Lack of Knowledge and Experience: Bystanders lack awareness of where to find AEDs and how to operate them effectively.

To address these obstacles and achieve the project goal of enabling more bystanders to access the nearest AEDs during OHCA cases, the system should aim to fulfill the following purposes:

Enable Solo Bystanders: Develop a system that empowers bystanders to access and use AEDs even when they are alone at an OHCA scene.
Streamline Processes: Shorten the dispatching process and reduce the time it takes for bystanders to reach an AED device, ensuring a more rapid response in critical situations.
Provide Clear Instructions: Offer clear and concise instructions to bystanders on where to find AEDs and how to use them effectively, bridging the knowledge gap and promoting confidence in AED utilization.

To address the identified obstacles and fulfill the project's goal, I focused on three main functionalities and generated design ideas, clustering them through an affinity diagram. The overarching concept involves integrating a set of functions into the Google Maps mobile app, facilitating bystanders' access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and streamlining the process of seeking and retrieving these life-saving devices.

Key considerations for the design concept include:

1. Mobile App Accessibility: A mobile app was chosen for its mobility and flexibility, ensuring that it can be readily applied in the event of a sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

2. Google Maps Integration: Google Maps serves as the platform for hosting these functionalities. It possesses comprehensive information about places in the city, and the location details of AEDs can be easily conveyed by adding AED logos directly onto Google Maps. The app's built-in navigation function can guide bystanders to locate the nearest AED efficiently. Additionally, Google Maps is widely used, allowing bystanders who encounter an OHCA to reach out to a larger audience for assistance.

This strategic choice leverages the ubiquity and features of Google Maps to create a user-friendly and widely accessible solution for improving AED accessibility and utilization in emergency situations.

Prototype

AED Pins

AED turorials

Alarm button

In the proposed design, places equipped with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are visually highlighted by heart-shaped pins in a conspicuous red color, positioned prominently at the top of the location details. Additionally, a dedicated category for AEDs is introduced into the carousel of categories, listing the places with AEDs in a sequential row. This design choice aims to emphasize the presence of AEDs and effectively communicate information about their locations throughout the city to all users of the Google Maps mobile app. The use of recognizable symbols and strategic placement ensures that bystanders can quickly identify and access information about nearby AEDs in emergency situations.

The educational module within the Google Maps system is seamlessly integrated to enhance users' knowledge about Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). On the main map interface, an information panel automatically pops out, guiding users to two dedicated interfaces featuring educational tutorials. These interfaces provide comprehensive information about what an AED is and the specific patients it can benefit. The educational content includes video tutorials complemented by detailed textual descriptions, offering users a thorough understanding of when and how to correctly operate an AED on a patient.

To ensure users engage with the educational content, the information panel periodically reappears until users complete the tutorial. Alternatively, users can access the educational pages via the site-menu. Additionally, a link beneath the video window directs users to onsite first-aid training courses, providing an opportunity to gain practical experience with AED usage. This multifaceted approach aims to equip users with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills related to AEDs, enhancing their preparedness to respond effectively in emergency situations.

In pursuit of the goal to assist bystanders in acquiring Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) when alone at an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) scene, an SOS-alarm system is integrated into Google Maps.

When a bystander identifies a heart attack patient, they can initiate the SOS system by clicking the SOS button on the screen. This action triggers an alert that is broadcasted from the sender's location to other Google Maps users within a 3 km radius. Recipients of the notification can choose to either ignore it or click to investigate the situation.

Upon entering Google Maps, users see the app in SOS mode, with the SOS button pressed down and a flashing SOS signal indicating an OHCA victim in urgent need of AEDs. Users can quickly assess the OHCA scene's location, identify the nearest AED, and leverage Google Maps' navigation function to either respond to the OHCA case or retrieve the nearest AED. Simultaneously, the initial bystander at the cardiac arrest scene can continue providing CPR until further assistance arrives. This system promotes rapid response and collaboration among nearby individuals, enhancing the chances of a positive outcome in OHCA situations.

To ensure seamless coordination, the system is designed to connect with all the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) containers in the city. When an AED is taken from its container, the system detects the change, transmits the information to Google Maps, and updates the map to reflect the state of the in-transit AED. This real-time tracking provides users with visibility into the current location of the AED, contributing to efficient utilization.

During an SOS activation, the SOS mode will automatically conclude once the AED arrives at its intended destination. Alternatively, if the AED is not in use, the SOS mode will end after 40 minutes. Throughout this process, all users involved have the flexibility to click the SOS button again at any time to exit the SOS mode. This feature ensures user autonomy and allows for adjustments based on the evolving circumstances of an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) situation.

Evaluation

Heuristic Evaluation

In the final phase, a usability evaluation was conducted with three participants who had a background in Human-Computer Interactions, and they were recruited from the initial user research for a comprehensive assessment. Participants interacted freely with the prototype, applying Nielsen and Molich's heuristics to identify usability issues. Additionally, they answered a series of questions to gauge their perspectives on using Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) after engaging with the design.

The evaluation highlighted two primary usability issues:

1. Tutorial Length and Format: Participants found the tutorial to be overly text-heavy, making it tedious to read through. It was suggested that the tutorial might not align optimally with the typical usage scenario of Google Maps.

2. SOS Button Dual Functionality: The dual functionality of the SOS button was identified as a potential issue. Having two distinct functions could compromise fault tolerance if both cases were to occur simultaneously.

These insights from the usability evaluation provide valuable feedback for refining the design, with a focus on optimizing the tutorial for user engagement and addressing potential issues related to the SOS button's dual functionality.

Despite the identified usability issues, all participants expressed appreciation for the valuable information provided by the AED-Alert system. The design effectively increased their awareness of the presence of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in the vicinity and enhanced their confidence in locating and managing AEDs. While acknowledging the initial hesitation, participants concluded with a transformed belief—they not only considered the possibility of using AEDs in the future but also felt empowered and capable of doing so. This positive shift in perception underscores the potential impact of the design in fostering a sense of preparedness and willingness among users to engage with life-saving technologies.