Open AccessBridging the gap between respiratory research and health literacy: an interactive web-based platform
Author(s) -
Kelly Burrowes,
Haribalan Kumar,
Alys R. Clark,
Taco de Wolff,
Merryn H. Tawhai
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
bmj simulation and technology enhanced learning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.292
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2056-6697
DOI - 10.1136/bmjstel-2020-000678
Subject(s) - health literacy , visualization , bridging (networking) , computer science , literacy , multimedia , web application , disease , human–computer interaction , health care , medicine , world wide web , pathology , psychology , artificial intelligence , computer network , pedagogy , economics , economic growth
Many patients with respiratory disease lack an understanding of basic respiratory physiology and the changes occurring in their lungs due to disease. Describing how the lungs work using realistic 3D visualisation of lung structure and function will improve communication of complicated concepts, resulting in improved health literacy. We developed a web-based platform, using anatomically realistic 3D lung models, to create an interactive visualisation tool to improve health literacy for patients with respiratory disease. A small amount of non-identifying personal information including gender, age, weight, height and smoking history can be used to customise the visualisation to an individual user. 3D computer modelling was used to create a web-based application that helps people understand how their lungs work in health and disease. The web-based application includes pages describing and visualising how the lungs work and the changes that occur during asthma and damage that smoking may be doing to their lungs. The application is freely available and located at https://sites.bioeng.auckland.ac.nz/silo6/lung_new/. This application bridges the gap between computational modelling and patient education, giving a visually compelling view into the patient's body that cannot be provided with any existing tools, hence providing a novel platform for enhancing patient-clinician interaction.