Conditions:
It’s been a while since the Caribbean region received detailed guidelines to help medical professionals treat patients with Diabetes. After a full revision of the previous guidelines, it was agreed to approach the delivery of information in the form of modules that considered the needs of professionals at different areas of diabetic care. A specified module focusing on the supply-chain management at primary care facilities (for example), is much easier to find the right information, than having a single book that covers all aspects of diabetic care.
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in association with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), teamed up to revise and completely redesign the guidelines from the ground up.
Challenges & Solutions:
For a medical professional, time is a limited resource. A typical day requires them to balance their time between many clients, so saving a few minutes each day can help them be a lot more productive. My challenge therefore, was to design 5 modules that allow these professionals to find the right information quickly, with as little error as possible. The typefaces, shapes and colour were critical elements used to intentionally achieve this:
Typefaces needed to be clear, with careful consideration for persons with poor vision. Therefore, bigger font sizes were favoured.
Different shapes were used to quickly differentiate information in an algorithm. It was also used as an indicator for ending sections of a table. For example, a straight edge at the end of a page suggests that the information continues on the next page. A curved edge however, suggests the end of a section.
Colour was essential to providing hierarchy in tables, algorithms and headings. It was also used in tables to quickly read information in a row. Following the only blue row at the top of a table is much faster than following 1 of 3 blue rows adjacent to each other.
Project: CARPHA Guidelines For Management of Diabetes In Primary Care In The Caribbean
Client: Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
Association with: Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)
Funded by: World Diabetes Foundation (WDF)
Developed for: Physicians, nurses, nutritionist, pharmacist and carers
Credits:
Consultants for the development of the revised document:
Dr. Avery Hinds and Dr. Lisa Monrose
Dr. Avery Hinds and Dr. Lisa Monrose
Working Group 1:
Prof. Surujpal Teelucksingh - UWI, St. Augustine
Dr. Michael Boyne - UWI, Mona
Dr. Marshall Tulloch-Reid – UWI, Mona
Dr. Sonia Roache-Barker - Caribbean College of Family Practitioners (CCFP)
Prof. Nigel Unwin - UWI, Cave Hill
Dr. Claude Khan – Ministry of Health Trinidad and Tobago
Working Groups 2 and 3:
June Holdip - Registered Dietitian
Alecia Surujlal - Registered Dietitian, Diabetes Educator
Jochelle Mohammed - Registered Dietitian
Vanesa Martina - Public Health Nutritionist
Denesia Venus - Registered Dietitian and Public Health Nutritionist
Technical Personnel:
CARPHA Technical Officers:
Dr. Kimberly Ashby-Mitchell
Dr. Virginia Asin-Oostburg
Dr. Cheryl Jones
Dr. Glennis Andall- Brereton
Christine Bocage
Art Director & Editorial Designer: Sherlan Gittens
Editor: Cherisse Forde
OECS Health Unit Staff:
Lydia Atkins
Dr. Carlene Radix
Eliza James
OECS Pharmaceutical Procurement Service Unit:
Francis Burnett
Abraham Weekes
WINDREF:
Professor Calum MacPherson
Dr. Satesh Bidaisee
Ministry of Health Saint Lucia
Dr. Christy Nathaniel
Ms. Ira Isaac
Dr. Rohan Maharaj - University of the West Indies
Anica Sanoir – Caribbean Certified Diabetes Educator