Mobile toilet for chemotherapy patients

Project Description: Individual, Master's Graduation Project
Time: 2013
Skill Highlights: Healthcare, Ergonomics, Rapid Prototyping, Service Design, User-Centred Design

Why - Motivation 1

To protect family members from exposure to chemotherapy drugs.

When cancer patients undergo chemotherapy, the impact extends beyond themselves to affect their loved ones. Patients typically live at home between hospital visits, sharing their living environment with family members. However, the nature of chemotherapy presents significant risks to those around them.

Chemotherapy exposure, whether from the drugs themselves or from bodily fluids, can cause a range of adverse effects including rashes, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and allergic reactions. More severe implications include birth defects, miscarriages, and an increased risk of cancer.

This project aims to provide a safe solution that minimizes the risk to patients' families, ensuring a healthier and more secure home environment

Why - Motivation 2

To remove chemotherapy residuals from our water sources.

Chemotherapy treatment results in a significant amount of the administered drugs being excreted by the patient in an active state, primarily through urine and feces. These active pharmaceutical ingredients, including potent chemotherapy drugs, enter the environment and pose potential threats to both ecosystems and human health.

Studies have demonstrated that municipal sewage treatment plants are ineffective at removing certain chemotherapy drugs. Notably, cyclophosphamide (CP), used for cancers like lymphoma, leukemia, and breast cancer, and ifosfamide (IF), used for cervical and ovarian cancers, often pass through these systems untreated. Consequently, these drugs can enter surface water and potentially contaminate drinking water sources.

This project aims to ensure that harmful pharmaceutical residues are properly contained and treated, preventing their release into the environment.

The accompanying figure illustrates the before and after scenarios, highlighting the intended flow of chemotherapy drugs from the patient’s body with the implementation of this solution.

RESEARCH & DEFINE

User Research Insights

1. symptoms vary largely; side effects generally increase through treatment.

“Imagine your worst hangover…and having that every single day”

another patient:
“I went swimming from time to time”

2. All patients still want to feel normal.

“I would still want to use my own bathroom (toilet) if possible”

3. They are motivated to the usage of such a product.

“I know how it feels, I would not want it to affect others.”

4. The usage must be burdenless and straightforward.

“There are enough to deal with as it is”

Persona

Refined Design Direction

A mobile toilet tailored to the changing needs of patients, providing dignified care in usage and service that allows the collection of chemotherapy waste into packages for collection and transport.

The refined direction takes the main insights into account and the considerations of the transportation required.

CONCEPTUALIZATION

A few concepts were developed to get feedback and assess against a list of the criterium.

the concept: “furniture”:

strongly focuses on fitting to the environment of wherever the user places it. The design aims for simplicity with the ability to hide the toilet function. Therefore, the product will be able to complement the wish of getting “dignified care” by “not wanting to feel sick” by presenting itself as a typical furniture piece when the lid is closed.

the concept “compact”:

focuses on the space available on either side of the toilet in the lavatories fitting the Dutch building regulation. Users can flip the edge of the seat up and down. Converting it down allows the patient’s usage, and flipping it up enables family members to use the existing toilet. By facilitating the use in the ‘natural toileting environment,’ the patients keep their sense of dignity.

Final Design Iteration

Enables shared lavatory while convertible to a stand-alone unit.

After evaluating initial concepts with stakeholders, including patients, nurses, and doctors, I iterated the design based on their valuable feedback. The final design of the Olla on the Move addresses the primary goals of maintaining hygiene, dignity, and flexibility for chemotherapy patients and their families

Shared Lavatory Use:
The final design enables both the patient and family members to use the same lavatory, while using different toilets. This allows the patient to maintain their regular toilet routine in the lavatory room. This shared use is crucial for providing dignified care, ensuring that patients do not feel isolated or stigmatized.

• Convertible Stand-Alone Unit:
  The product is designed to be convertible, functioning as both an integrated lavatory solution and a stand-alone unit. This dual functionality serves two key purposes:

  • Adaptability to Health Conditions:
    As patients' health conditions may deteriorate over time, having a stand-alone option allows for greater flexibility. The unit can be moved closer to the patient’s bed, reducing the physical strain and providing easier access.

  • Space Constraints:
    In cases where the lavatory does not meet building code standards or is too small, the product can be placed in alternative locations such as the bathroom or other rooms. This ensures that the solution is adaptable to various living environments.

The design adapts to the capabilities of the users. 

The two configurations allow usage in the lavatory when the patient is bedridden and enable it to be brought to the bedside if needed.

The design is adaptable, considering the standard toilet seat heights, the space constraints of normal lavatories at home, and ergonomic measures to ensure comfort and safety. 

Usage and Service Scenarios

The design takes into account the entire journey from installation to scheduled pickup, ensuring a seamless experience for both patients and caregivers.

This comprehensive approach aims to address every touchpoint a user might encounter, enhancing the overall service quality.

Installation and Usage:

The first storyboard illustrates the installation and everyday usage of the product. Patients can then use the product as part of their regular routine, ensuring hygienic and dignified management of chemotherapy waste.

Service Scenario:

The second storyboard outlines the service scenario, which includes scheduled pickups and maintenance. Although the detailed setup of the service infrastructure was beyond the scope of this graduation project due to time and budget constraints, this aspect is crucial for the project’s long-term success.

VALIDATION & FEEDBACK

I developed a prototype to test with end users, gathering feedback in three key areas: perceived safety, ease of use, and comfort. The insights obtained from these sessions were invaluable.

● ● ●

“It’s like a real toilet seat! But then again, I don’t think the normal seats are the most comfortable in general.”

"Important that all movements need to be very smooth”

“Feels good that it is resting on my toilet.”

Key takeaways and actionable next steps:

The user testing sessions provided numerous actionable insights. Some of the top recommendations include:

• Increase Drop Distance:
  Increase the drop distance between the seated area and the catching surface to improve safety and comfort.

• Minimize Moving Parts:
  Reduce the number of moving parts to avoid areas where mechanisms and gaps could catch clothing and debris, ensuring smoother operation.

• Provide Feedback Mechanisms:
  Implement indicators or haptic feedback for when the lid is fully opened or when the slider seat is entirely out, enhancing usability and user confidence.

The feedback gathered from these sessions is crucial for iterating and refining the design, ensuring that the final product meets the needs and expectations of users.