Embedding participatory design processes into everyday work activities: the case of video consultation services for paraplegics

We faced several challenges integrating participatory design methods within our current project that revolves around the implementation of video consultation services for paraplegics. Due to the high complexity in the care of paraplegics and interdependency between many different stakeholders being involved, knowledge and time are distributed resources, the latter additionally of scarce nature. In this paper we examine how a diary-like self-documentation method, including an online platform, was applied in this distributed setting to enrich classical Participatory Design (PD) methods and account for users' capacities, skills and motivation. The preliminary findings are promising in this regard. However, embedding such a-synchronous, distributed PD methods into healthcare professionals' lives strongly depends on the researcher's effort in monitoring and integrating the user input, both on the platform and face to face.