Early detection of Breast cancer using at-home Health testing

Empowering women 50+ to take charge of their health through accessible, at-home screening.

Role: UX Researcher

Timeline: Jan - June (6 months)

Tools: Figma, Miro, Canva

Overview

This project explores how at-home breast cancer testing kits can improve early detection rates among women aged 50 and older, focusing on accessibility, trust, and health equity.

OSU Final UX Research Project

"I want to take care of my health, but I don't alwavs have time or trust to go into a clinic."

Problem: Women over 50 face high breast cancer mortality rates, partly due to limited access, fear, and lack of education about screening.
This project investigates how an at-home testing service can remove those barriers.

Research Methods

Interviews: Captured women’s experiences with screening.

Thematic Analysis: identified patterns in trust, convenience, and awareness.

Stakeholder Mapping – Visualized relationships between users, providers, and insurers.

Co-Creation Workshop – Co-designed service improvements.

Prototype Storyboard – Illustrated how users interact with the kit.

Key Findings

Summary Insight:

Through Kaliyah’s journey, it became clear that while at-home breast cancer testing offers freedom and accessibility, many users still struggle with anxiety, confusion, and lack of clear support throughout the process. These emotional and logistical barriers highlight crucial gaps in education, clarity, and trust within the at-home health testing experience.

Insights:

“After trying an at-home test, Kaliyah felt anxious and unsure if she did it correctly. When her result came back invalid, she felt frustrated, worried, and unsupported — still uncertain about her health.”

  • Anxiety & Stress

    • Unclear instructions and uncertain results heighten emotional distress during an already sensitive process.

  • Support & Education 

    • Users need accessible, step-by-step guidance to correctly use the test and interpret results.

  • Privacy & Confidentiality

    • Many users value the ability to test privately at home but remain concerned about data security and result handling.

  • Access & Affordability

    • Financial and geographic barriers limit access for underinsured or rural populations.

  • Follow-Up & Support

    • Users want integrated next steps—such as automatic referrals, helplines, or access to healthcare professionals after results.

Service Gaps

  • Insufficient education on how to perform and interpret tests

  • Lack of personalized follow-up or emotional support

  • No clear link between at-home testing and medical professionals

  • Data privacy concerns with genetic information

  • Affordability issues, especially for uninsured users

  • Inconsistent communication between testing providers and healthcare systems

Problems Identified

  • Lack of awareness about at-home testing options

  • Confusing directions leading to invalid results

  • Emotional strain from uncertainty and lack of clarity

  • Concerns over privacy and data use

  • Cost barriers for uninsured users

  • Unclear test accuracy and trust issues

  • Limited access to follow-up care or counseling

Opportunities for Innovation

Convenience: Users can test from home on their own schedule, removing clinic barriers.

Privacy: At-home testing offers discretion for users who feel uncomfortable with in-person screening.

Accessibility: Reaches women in rural or underserved communities.

Affordability: Reduces costs compared to hospital screenings.

Early Detection: Promotes timely identification of risks and potentially saves lives.

Deliverables

prototype Storyboard

The goal of this research is to explore how at-home breast cancer testing kits can empower women—particularly those aged 50 and older—to detect breast cancer early, comfortably, and affordably. This service concept provides women with the tools and guidance needed to self-administer a BRCA gene test from home, offering quick and accurate results while maintaining privacy and convenience.

UX Research Highlights

  • Emotion - First Design: Women valued warmth, trust, and empathy in both visuals and messaging.

  • Simplified Communication: Technical instructions needed to be more visual and inclusive.

  • CO-Design Potential: Partnering with community leaders could strengthen testing adoption and awareness.

Impact & Recommendation

My research showed that at-home testing can increase accessibility and comfort for underserved women.
Next steps include validating test accuracy, partnering with healthcare providers, and developing educational campaigns to build awareness and trust.

Reflection

This project deepened my understanding of how UX Research can influence real-world health equity.

Listening to participants’ stories reshaped how I approach empathy in design. - Showing that data alone doesn’t build trust; compassion does.

This project also taught me how to translate sensitive health topics into user-centered design decisions

“Design thinking starts with listening. Every story reveals an opportunity to improve lives.”