User Research

Context

This case study will provide an analysis of the research insights and decisions that can help India increase its organ donation rate from 0.01% to 1.33%.

  1. Introduction

Organ donation is a noble cause, 1 organ donor can save the lives of over 8 people with fatal conditions. It’s regarded as the highest form of donation and good deed a person can do. Sadly, India has a very low rate of organ donation, with only 0.01% of its population donating each year.

  • This is alarming considering that over 500,000 people die each year waiting for an organ transplant.

  • In this case study, I will explore ways to spread awareness about organ donation among Indians.

  1. Research

Preliminary Research

“Understanding the present state of organ donation in India, including the ratio of demand to donations, and the governmental policies for donation at the state and national levels.”analysis of data collected from user research following are the findings.

User Research

Aims to explore users’ basic perceptions, including their thought processes and attitudes towards the idea of organ donation.

Conducted Two User interviews with individuals of different religions (since religion is a major factor people consider when making donations), age groups, and demographics.

User Interview Questions

This part examines inquiries posed by a pair of interviewees. I’ve endeavored to present a precise and rational series of queries, which will facilitate my comprehension of the user’s needs and aid in creating a solution.

Questions with Intent

  1. What’s your take on social services, such as assisting others through monetary and non-monetary means?
    (Helps me understand the general perception of people, whether are they even willing to help others in the first place, and their reasons for YES/NO.)

  1. In what ways have you tried to help others if done in the past? if not what were the reasons?
    (Helps me understand what type of help people usually prefer. If not, why? Are they willing to help but did not find an opportunity, or did they deny helping in the first place?)

  1. “Do you engage in social work on specific occasions or is it something you do regardless?”
    (If people only donate on special occasions or festivals designing an awareness program focused on that will be helpful.)

  1. What are your views on blood donation as a way to help others?
    (Helps me understand perception towards blood donation. With reasons why they think in a particular manner)

  1. Have you donated blood up until now and how has your experience been?
    (Helps me understand what elements of blood donation they like or felt comfortable with and what elements or events they think might be frightening or uncomfortable)

  1. What are your views on organ donation?
    (Helps me understand their perception of organ donation, do they see it positively, if yes WHY? and vice versa)

  1. Why do you think it is a bad idea to donate organs?
    (What are the factors involved in creating a bad perception about organ donation, myths, religious beliefs, superstitions, etc.)

  1. Why do you think organ donation is a good way to help others?
    (What factors help create a good perception about organ donation, certain educational background, personal experience.)

  1. What does your religion have to say about organ donation, and what are your thoughts on your religion’s take on this topic?
    (Helps me understand how majorly religion and its beliefs contribute to creating a good/bad perception about organ donation.)

  1. Do you know any ways that you can register as a donor if anybody wants to become one?
    (Is there any awareness among the general public on who they can pledge as a donor?)

  1. Do you know how organ donation works?
    (Are they aware of the process?)

  1. After all the statistics, what are your thoughts on organ donation now?
    (Can statistics persuade them to reconsider their firm beliefs on the urgency and importance of the topic? Or are their convictions unyielding?)

Government Policies for Organ Donation

NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organization) is a government organization established under the Ministry of Health to manage organ donations. It oversees hospitals, donors, and NGOs involved in the process.

Types of Organ Donation:

  1. Living Donor Organ Donation: A person during his life can donate
    one kidney (the other kidney is capable of maintaining the body functions adequately for the donor),
    a portion of the pancreas (half of the pancreas is adequate for sustaining pancreatic functions) and
    a part of the liver (the segments of the liver will regenerate after a period of time in both recipient and donor).


  2. Deceased Donor Organ Donation: A person can donate multiple organs and tissues after (brainstem/cardiac) death. His/her organ continues to live in another person’s body.

The ratio for demand vs donation in India each year is as follows: -

Indian Govt has made some positive changes in laws regarding organ donation.

User 1

  • Occupation — Runs family business of footwear store.

  • Resides in Tier 2 town. Age — 32 yrs.

  • Studied up to 12th grade.

  • Is really uncomfortable to the concept of Organ Donation.

  • The reason being, he believes why should he donate his organ to someone who has destroyed their own organs through substance abuse or reckless driving?

  • He firmly believes that his body has been gifted by God and he has no right to mutilate it by his will. This is also what his religion has also taught him.

  • Additionally, holds a belief that if he donates organs in this life, he’ll be born without it in the next.

User 2

  • Occupation — works in a corporate company.

  • He lives in an urban city.

  • Is well educated.

  • Age -26 yrs.

  • Finds organ donation a very genuine and noble way to help others.

  • Has a few doubts about how the procedure works.

  • Is concerned about his family’s reaction to his decision to be an organ donor. Felt uncomfortable during the interview at the beginning, talking about his death and organ donation at first.

  • She is also concerned about how the process might work and is the system reliable, she doesn’t want to take such a big decision for herself and her family only to find out that the system is not reliable, and her organs might be not given the user she expected rather due to corruption her organs are being sold.

UX Research

Preventing Wrong UPI Transactions

  1. Analysis and wrong assumptions

Insights

  • There is a lack of awareness about organ donation among the general public.

  • Even those who are aware of the concept may have doubts about the reliability of the system.

  • Many are unsure about how the procedure works and fear that doctors may not save their patients if they are donors.

  • Some religious communities, such as Islam, completely deny organ donation.

  • Many citizens from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities hold religious dogma and myths, such as the fear of being born without the donated organ in their next life.

Myths around organ donation.

  • Doctors will not try their best to save you if they know that you are a donor.

  • Some people have religious reasons for not donating organs.

  • Many believe that if they donate an organ, they will be born with congenital anomalies in their next life.

  • Some also believe that by taking another person’s organ, they will take on that person’s karma.

  1. Deciding user groups and redefining assumptions

Initially, we presumed that lack of awareness is the primary motive behind most Indians not contributing their organs. Further analysis of our research data reveals that besides awareness, religious convictions, myths, and personal beliefs also play a crucial role.

This led us to decide on the user group we wanted to target. Since this is a very sensitive topic that involves discussing the death of someone’s loved ones, it won’t be easy to spread the idea to a mass audience initially. Keeping this in mind here are the users that I have decided to pick, also with the user groups I won’t pick at least for now.