There is a quote by Steve Jobs that goes:
Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.
From the brief time that I’ve been at Rice, I’ve encountered this same idea- the greatest solutions to global health problems are those that are both simple and impactful. In fact, I realize that one of the main reasons I’ve been so attracted to global health is that I’ve been inspired by the clever yet simple solutions that various Rice design teams have developed to solve global health problems.
Returning to AME
Last week, Shravya and I returned to AME (Ambulatório Médico de Especialidades) where we met with Dr. Guilherme, Dr. Andre, and Dr. Marcio to discuss the technologies we brought from Rice. The reception to all the technologies was very positive and the doctors were extremely enthusiastic about the potential that the technologies have to educate staff and patients and improve patient self-care. There were two technologies that were especially well-received: the retinopathy glasses and the insulin dosing clips (AccuDose).
As you may already know, diabetes is a prevalent condition in Brazil. In addition, a large portion of the population has low-literacy and only a basic education. This poses a great problem for doctors- how can they ensure that patients are receiving adequate care they need, despite their education level? One of the primary challenges is the administration of insulin, since it can be difficult for patients to measure their correct dosage. In fact, Dr. Guilherme explained that the hospital depends on family of the patient to give the doses. However, patients who are alone must get their insulin by going to their local clinic every day.
When we showed AccuDose to the doctors, they were overcome with excitement. The beauty of AccuDose, besides being very cheap (once set costs around 30 cents), is that it allows the user to precisely measure insulin quantities without requiring any literacy skills. The clips have the dose quantity written in numbers, braille, and color coded. Therefore, they can be understood by patients form diverse backgrounds. The doctors kept repeating how impressed they were with the simplicity of the device and its ease of use. In the video below, Dr. Marcio tested the ease of use of the insulin dosing clips by simulating the procedure a patient would go through to inject insulin, but with his eyes closed (in case the patient is blind or has diabetic retinopathy).
The retinopathy glasses were also very popular. Dr. Guilherme told Shravya and I that they are “perfect for us”, because he explained that diabetic patients generally don’t know anything about diabetic retinopathy. He emphasized that these glasses would be instrumental in spreading awareness about the problem and teaching patients to take better care for themselves. Shravya and I left six retinopathy kits with Dr. Guilherme at AME and he plans on using them right away, both at AME and on his trips to train professionals in other clinics. It was very encouraging to see their enthusiasm for these devices.
Dr. Marcio trying on the retinopathy glasses.
Learning from the occupational therapists
When Shravya and I were still observing at Hospital Sao Judas (the Palliative unit), we spoke with an occupational therapist and learned about her work. The occupational therapist focus on helping patients adapt to their new lifestyle. One of the ways the therapists do this is by adapting everyday items to the needs of the patients. For example, she explained that patients often struggle to eat by themselves because their food falls off the plate when they try to pick it up with a utensil. As a result, they must be fed by a family member. The therapist showed us that they change the plates for the patients to make it easier for them to push the food onto their utensil without falling off the plate. They cut up a plastic strainer and glue it on the plate. The solution is so simple and accessible, yet it has such a drastic impact on the emotional well-being of the patient because the patient feels more independent.
The adapted plate made by the occupational therapists to help patients eat.
One of my favorite aspects of this internship experience has been seeing the ingenious ideas and solutions of people at Rice and here in Barretos, because it has made me change the way I approach problem solving. There is so much power in simplicity and I am glad that I have been able to share that some of that power through the devices we have brought from Rice.