At the heart of what we do at Asthma Australia is understanding the lived experience of people with asthma.  For the QUM in CAD Program, we have been interested especially in their interactions with healthcare professionals and systems.

The consumer voice served as the “north star” at the Design Thinking Workshop, guiding the group’s thinking throughout. This influence was reflected in two key ways: consumers actively participated in all working groups, and real-world case study narratives, brought to life by actors, set the tone for discussions from the outset. Focusing the day on these vignettes played an important contextual role, putting participants in the end users’ shoes and building empathy for people who live with CAD.

Asthma Australia brings to the Program Design rich insights from its deep and long-term consumer engagement, alongside proactive and formal story collections and informal feedback across its consumer channels. Tapping into these sources, we know there are ‘moments that matter’ for people experiencing asthma in their journey, during which their trajectory can be positively impacted with insightful care.

Themes include validation, reassurance, clear communication, checking understanding, reinforcing learning, creating positive medication habits, health literacy, timely care and true partnership with a team of healthcare professionals.

People with lived experience tell us that positive interactions with healthcare professionals can “empower consumers to make better choices about how they are living life, becoming more aware of different triggers”.

Such care can result in “a life-changing experience of information and connection.”

Publication date: April 2024

Author: Jess Tyler, Asthma Australia

Designing Person-Centred Interventions for QUM In CAD
QUM In CAD: Program Design Report