CONTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION DESIGN FOR THE AUTONOMY OF THE POPULATION IN A HEALTH CONTEXT

Abstract

This poster presents part of the study developed by the author in the context of the doctoral study, where the importance of Information Design for the autonomy of the population in health context was analyzed. Currently, despite the existence of governmental measures aiming at a preventive health model, it is often verified that the population still uses health services in a consumer perspective or in a reactive way, not taking into account their own health as a life goal to achieve. This behavior triggers a set of negative consequences, not only in personal terms, but also in terms of the inability of the services to respond effectively. After an in-depth bibliographic review of specialist authors in the field of health and in the field of information design and taking as object of study the clinical analysis report model currently used in Portuguese National Health Service, it was concluded that the current educational health messages are not adjusted to the user literacy, not taking into account either the cognitive needs (at the cultural and social level), nor to their emotional needs. This presentation leads to the recognition of the fundamental role of Information Design tools in this specific context, due to their integrating character. Through the construction of messages with a strong sense of ownership and commitment, an increase in the individual's awareness and autonomy regarding the decisions to be taken within the scope of his/her health is promoted. We conclude, however, that in order to enhance these results, a review of the design paradigm is necessary, in which the user cannot be understood as a mere recipient of contents built based on assumptions, but rather integrated in a process of co-creation during the construction of educational health messages, right from an early stage.