Designing animated pictorial instructions: A methodology proposed for the Open University of the Unified Health System in Brazil (UNA-SUS/UFMA)

Animated pictorial instructions are effective resources for learning medical content (e.g., surgical procedures). Considering this, the Open University of the Unified Health System of the Federal University of Maranhão (UNA-SUS/UFMA) in Brazil employs animation in their distance learning courses. From 2009 to the present the UNA-SUS/UFMA has offered 48 e-courses to health professionals, reaching around 470,000 enrolments. The development of animated instructions at UNA-SUS/UFMA considers medical and pedagogical knowledge only, lacking information design expertise to reach communication effectiveness. Thus, a design methodology was proposed based on: (a) the results of an analytical study of 100 medical animations; (b) the outcomes of a context analysis of the UNA-SUS/UFMA design process through interviews with the heads of the educational production departments; and (c) the results of an online questionnaire with 1,735 health professionals. The methodology consists of three phases: (1) Structuring: identification and arrangement of different contents (introductory content, inventory information, steps, warnings), resulting in an animation script; (2) Representation: definition of the animation graphic appearance and technological resources (e.g., pictorial style, camera framing, interaction cues), resulting in a visual storyboard or mock-up/prototype that can be tested with users (e.g., comprehension, usability tests); and (3) Finalization: programming and production of the animation. For each phase, instruments/protocols were developed to aid decision-making (form, guidelines and checklist). To evaluate the methodology, a focus group was conducted with the animation stakeholders/developers of the UNA-SUS/UFMA. The results were positive, but suggestions were made to improve the decision-making instruments, which were considered in the methodology final design.