Script App

Bringing evidence-based antibiotic guidelines to clinicians' fingertips

Script is a mobile application that enables clinicians to access evidence-based antibiotic guidelines quickly and easily, offline, on iOS and Android devices. Designed to support their own understanding of antibiotics, Script helps medical students and clinicians gain a stronger knowledge of prescription drugs and minimise incorrect prescriptions when treating patients.

MY ROLE
As UX designer, I helped streamline decision flows and developed a clear, distraction-free UI and brand that minimises prescription errors.

The Problem

THE CONTEXT
Antibiotic resistance has become a significant issue in modern medicine and an immediate threat to global public health. A key contribution to resistance is poor adherence by clinicians to evidence-based antibiotic guidelines, often resulting in over prescribing antibiotics. When incorrectly or over prescribed, antibiotics become ineffective in treating life-threatening bacterial diseases. Electronic medicine prescribing tools and web-based guidelines have contributed to improvements in prescribing, however, these methods are often slow to access or difficult to use when prescribing antibiotics. As a result, clinicians often revert to carrying hard copies of guidelines during a shift.

THE BRIEF
As part of a research initiative to reduce rates of antibiotic misprescription, a group of pharmacists and researchers from Auckland District Health Board and the University of Auckland approached the DHW Lab to help design and develop an application that would provide clinicians quick and easy access to evidence-based antibiotic guidelines on their smartphone. In addition to supporting effective decision making from clinicians prescribing antibiotics, the app should act as an educational tool for medical students and junior doctors to learn evidence-based prescribing practices.

The Process

Early iterations presented each screen in a list format, however this created confusion between screens that required input and screens which presented results. To visually distinguish the beginning and end of any given antibiotic pathway, we created a much clearer ‘home screen’ that presented antibiotic tracts on a grid supported by iconography. Once a user reached the results screen, treatment instructions were presented on full width cards, clearly signalling the end of the flow.

During the design and development process, various iterations were prototyped and tested with medical students and clinicians to ensure functionality, navigation, and content were designed to maximise efficiency and accuracy of treatment.

The Outcome

Script allows clinicians to enter information relating to a patient’s condition into the app to formulate the recommended antibiotic treatment plan. Any drug reactions or conflicts that a patient may have are highlighted throughout the process. Designed to support their own understanding of antibiotics, Script helps students and clinicians gain a stronger knowledge of prescription drugs and minimises incorrect prescriptions.

Following a clinical trial within Auckland District Health Board (DHB), Script was updated to support a wider range of antimicrobial treatment guidelines, extending its use to DHBs across New Zealand.