User Involvement
Users have been involved in developing the website in numerous ways. These include developing the website logo, participating in focus groups and providing feedback at demonstration sessions.
Developing the website logo
Patients and carers affected by heart disease and/or stroke conditions worked with health professionals and an artist, Graham Oglivie, to develop a logo for the website.
The group was asked to describe images that would represent what it feels like to be affected by heart disease or a stroke condition. Graham designed several potential logos which were then voted on by the project steering group, support groups for heart disease and stroke and health professionals.
The final logo shows lightning bolts coming from the words “heart” and “stroke” to the word “information” – this represents what patients and carers felt like when affected by heart disease or stroke – as if they had been struck by lightning.
Focus Groups
A series of focus groups, independently facilitated by NHS Tayside Audit Resource assessed whether the Heart & Stroke Information Point had met the objectives set at the original stakeholder events.
The focus group members carried out a number of tasks designed to test whether the website was easy to use. The users then provided feedback on ways the website could be improved to inform the future direction of the project.
Health Professionals Focus Group - March 2006
Health professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and dieticians attended this focus group.
The main feedback was that professionals felt the website would be a good place for junior members of staff, patients and carers to find information.
Original Stakeholders Focus Group - Heart Disease - May 2006
This focus group included the participants from the original Heart Disease Stakeholders event. The main points of feedback were:
• The website is easy to follow and provides information for those who need it
• The website provides ways to search for information
• Make sure there is quality and up to date information
Original Stakeholders Focus Group - Stroke - May 2006
This focus group included participants from the original Stroke Stakeholders event. The main points of feedback were:
• The website achieved, if not surpassed, the expectations of original stakeholders
• There should be guidance/ a tutorial for new users on how to navigate the website
• Add photos of support group activities
• Add patient stories
• Explain terminology
• Have section on non-physical problems eg psychological
Carers Focus Group - June 2006
This focus group included carers who care for loved ones affected by heart disease and stroke conditions.
The group discussed their journey and experiences of when information was provided and mapped an information journey detailing all information that was important to carers.
The project team are now working to put these recommendations into place.
Website Demonstrations
The project team regularly carry out demonstrations of the website to patient, carer and healthcare professional groups. These have included: 
• Heart disease and stroke support groups across Tayside
• Community groups across Tayside
• Hospital based health professional groups across Tayside
• Healthcare professionals via conferences and meetings
Feedback received at each demonstration is collected and reviewed for action by the project team. This has helped to identify potential new content, features and functionality for the website to ensure stakeholder needs are being met.
Last updated: 23/11/2007