Medvisor
When patients want to purchase over-the-counter medications online, they can simply enter their symptoms on Medvisor. Using AI, Medvisor analyzes their symptoms, identifies which medications are appropriate, and minimizes the risk of adverse effects or drug-drug interactions from taking multiple medications at once. This eliminates the need for patients to research which medications can be taken together safely.
Project Details
PROJECT TYPE
Web Design
TOOLS USED
Figma
TIMELINE
2024
Problems
PROBLEM 1
People who purchase multiple medications to treat various symptoms may experience drug-drug interactions, which can cause adverse effects. This often happens because they do not carefully check for potential interactions.
PROBLEM 2
When people are sick, they typically need to visit a doctor to get a prescription and then go to a pharmacy to pick up their medication. This process can be especially difficult for those who are seriously ill and too unwell to leave their bed.
The Adverse Drug Reactions in the U.S.
A Real-Life Case of Drug Interactions
A 47-year-old woman developed serious side effects from clozapine, a medication used to treat mental health conditions like schizophrenia. The reaction was caused by an interaction between clozapine, oral birth control pills, and antifungal medicine. As a result, she developed inflammation around the heart (called pericarditis) and a high level of a type of white blood cell (eosinophilia).
"I had no idea that combining my prescriptions could lead to such a dangerous reaction—it almost cost me my life."
User Interviews & Surveys
To better understand the customers, I interviewed people from various professions, ranging in age from 27 to 65. I also conducted user surveys, and the results are summarized below.
Competitive Analysis
To gain a better understanding of customers, I interviewed individuals from various professions.
Target Audience
User Persona
#1 John Baker
BEHAVIOR
Buys OTC drugs online instead of seeing a doctor because it saves a lot of time and energy.
Overlooks the potential risks of mixing medications without consulting a doctor.
OVERVIEW
NAME: John Baker
AGE: 29
LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA
OCCUPATION: Architect
QUOTE: "Never assume it's safe to mix medications, even OTC ones."
PAIN POINTS
Doesn’t have enough time to visit a doctor for minor symptoms, making him rely on OTC drugs.
Not aware which drugs should not be taken together, leading to an accidental overdose.
NEEDS & GOALS
Wants to order OTC medications online and take them as soon as he starts to have symptoms.
Needs a tool that informs him potential drug interactions or risks based on his health profile.
#2 Julie Evans
ABOUT
Recently, Julie developed a runny nose, so she ordered over-the-counter (OTC) drugs on Amazon and took them. Soon after, her heart began to race, prompting a visit to the emergency room. Ingredients like pseudoephedrine can increase blood pressure and heart rate.
BEHAVIOR
Overlook the potential interactions between her chronic condition and the drugs she chooses.
Prefers buying OTC medications online to visiting the doctor if the symptoms are mild.
PAIN POINTS
Struggled to easily identify which OTC medications were safe for her hypertension.
Faced a lack of personalized guidance when selecting drugs suitable for her health condition.
User Journey Map
“How Might We” Questions
User Testing
Based on the feedback, I made changes to the wireframes that drastically changed the flow. Below is an example of a design I revised after conducting user testing.
Before
After
High-Fidelity Wireframes
Landing Page
Survey Page
Recommended Medications Page
Shopping Cart
Checkout Page
Medication Schedule Page
Reported Side Effects Page
Side Effects Survey Page
Conclusion
Through this project, I learned the importance of taking OTC drugs that do not have drug-drug interactions. Instead of solely relying on assumptions, I believe it is important to hear from real people and learn about their experiences. In this way, I can learn about what difficulties they have faced and what solutions I can provide them with. The more I talked with these people and listened to their stories, the more design decisions became clear.
I also learned that all the design decisions and all the elements in Medvisor should have reasoning. Just because Medvisor looks aesthetically pleasing doesn’t mean that it is going to solve the problem. I ensured that all the features and elements in Medvisor helped the customers achieve their needs and goals easily and efficiently, helping them find the right OTC drugs.