Sitting cross-legged on the floor and staring at the textless Ikea instructions in my hands, I wonder how I'm supposed to assemble this entire desk using only an Allen key. I’m no carpenter–how can I possibly be doing this right?

It’s never a good feeling when you aren't confident that you're doing something correctly. While it isn’t a big deal when you’re putting together furniture, it’s the last thought you want crossing your mind when using health and wellness products. Instead of ending up with a desk that’s a little lopsided, you could end up making a mistake with serious consequences.

Advances in medical technology and pharmaceuticals have made it increasingly possible for people to self-administer medications and manage their therapy in the comfort of their own home. Although this can save people money on hospital and doctor’s office visits, it also puts healthcare more and more in the hands of people who are not healthcare professionals. It isn’t enough that these medical devices are safe and effective; they must also provide the user with a sense of comfort and a feeling of confidence while using them.

How do you feel about using medical devices at home? How could that experience be improved? Take our survey to join the discussion and share your thoughts on how to make these devices as comfortable and easy to use as possible. Then check back in with us here on the Design Science blog to see the results.