Testing, testing – what about the instructions?

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Walker, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5942-1836, Bravo, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1013-8412 and Edwards, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2369-989X (2024) Testing, testing – what about the instructions? In: Knowing Covid-19: The Pandemic and Beyond. Manchester University Press, Manchester. (In Press)

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Abstract/Summary

This chapter is about the design and usability of instructions for point of use Covid-19 lateral flow rapid tests. At its heart is an argument that such tests don’t simply need better instructions, but that we need a richer, more nuanced account of what is meant by “good instructions” in the first place. We start by outlining the differences between ‘Instructions for Use’ and ‘Point-of-use’ instructions and draw from existing design research to argue the benefits of simple instructions for point-of-use. After explaining our approach and summarising our methods, the focus turns to our exploration of design features to create effective Point-of-Use instructions. Although focused on current lateral flow rapid tests for Covid-19, the findings are applicable to any community-based testing technology and medical condition. In particular, we describe the development of a toolkit to support the creation of point-of- use instructions, taking account of views from diagnostic industry members to inform an understanding of how instructions are produced currently and what guidance might be helpful. The chapter outlines unresolved tensions between the needs of final users and the constraints posed by needing to meet regulations within timeframes. The benefits of user-friendly point-of-use instructions can be leveraged not only in home tests, but also in community testing settings, to be used by healthcare professionals as well as patients.

Item Type:	Book or Report Section
Refereed:	Yes
Divisions:	Arts, Humanities and Social Science > School of Arts and Communication Design > Typography & Graphic Communication
ID Code:	113065
Uncontrolled Keywords:	user instructions, visual communication, rapid test, diagnostics, information design
Publisher:	Manchester University Press

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References

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