Kate Hogan
she/her
CareCover
Medical environments can feel intimidating and overwhelming for children. Through conversations with healthcare professionals, parents, and children, I discovered that blood-taking procedures are among the leading causes of fear and anxiety in paediatric healthcare. Through research, I found that the unknown, visible blood, and medical equipment were the main sources of distress, with medical professionals stating that “pain is not the problem”. These experiences can prolong appointments, increase waiting times for other patients, and add additional strain on healthcare staff.
CareCover explores how child-centred design can reduce anxiety during blood-taking procedures through storytelling, character-based interventions, and sensory design. The kit includes a storybook that prepares children for the procedure, a set of three character-based blood collection covers, and coloured optical-lens glasses that alter the appearance of blood using tinted lenses. Together, these interventions aim to create a calmer, more playful healthcare environment for young patients.
Research
