Traveler's Remedy
A mobile application that allows international travelers to easily search for and access relevant information about over-the-counter medications while navigating foreign countries.
Product Experience
Problem Space
Problem Statement
How might we make it easier for international travelers to navigate the selection of over-the-counter medications in foreign countries to treat minor illnesses/injury.
Problem Background
Traveling can be an exciting and enriching experience, offering the opportunity to explore new cultures, landscapes, and cuisines. However, unforeseen circumstances such as falling ill can disrupt the joy of travel, especially when it occurs in a foreign country. Minor illnesses or injuries, though not life-threatening, can still impact the overall travel experience and necessitate attention and care.
Dealing with a minor illness abroad adds complexity due to language barriers, unfamiliar healthcare systems, differing cultural practices, and limited access to familiar medications or treatments. Managing these challenges can be daunting without a support system in an unfamiliar environment.
Research Insights
User Pain Points
Conducted a comprehensive survey to assess user pain points during international travel, including instances of minor illness or injury, comfort levels in navigating international pharmacies, and understanding medication terminology.
Supporting Data
Only 11% of travelers speak the native (primary) language in the country they travel to.
70% of travelers suffered from a minor illness/injury while traveling.
100% had a moderate or mild impact to their travels (57% experienced a mild impact but were able to enjoy the trip/43% experienced a moderate impact which required adjustment to plans) .
90% of travelers visited a pharmacy abroad.
70% of travelers self-medicated with OTC medications and an additional 20% also sought out local pharmacy assistance.
67% of travelers have encountered challenges understanding or communicating medical terms or instructions related to their minor illness/injury.
44% Had difficulty with communication due to language barriers.
Only 20% of travelers are very comfortable with medical jargon.
Landing on the Solution
Based on our target users’ pain points, we knew what we want to:
- Provide an intuitive and user-friendly mobile application to help international travelers identify and select appropriate OTC medications.
- Educate users about potential interactions with any prescription medications they may be taking.
- Offer accurate and up-to-date information on OTC medications available in different countries.
- Improve overall safety and confidence in self-medication and self-treatment during travel.
Provide:
- Comprehensive Medication Information: provides accurate and up-to-date information about over-the-counter medications, including dosages, side effects, and precautions.
- Multilingual Support: The app's built-in translation feature allows users to understand medication names, instructions, and warnings in multiple languages.
- User-Friendly Interface: With an easy-to-navigate interface, offers clear guidance on selecting the right over-the-counter medications for common ailments.
- Medication Interaction Checker: interaction checker ensures the safe combination of prescribed medications with over-the-counter drugs.
Future Steps
Overall, I have an idea of how this solution will be enacted and I’m looking forward to working with a team of engineers and designers to establish a thorough solution and prototype.
Learnings
Product Manager Learnings:
Nicole Lewis
Co.Lab was an amazing experience for me. I’ve learned so much in the 4 week sprint. My main lessons revolved around remaining focused on problem space and operating within its scope.
As a results-driven individual, I have always been inclined to continuously improve and assess root cause analysis procedures to find effective solutions. However, my role as a product manager during this Sprint has highlighted the vital importance of understanding the "Job To Be Done" within the context of the problem space defined by our users. This involves identifying their needs and challenges in a profound manner.
Instead of simply pitching ideas, my focus has shifted to centering the Customer by gaining a deep understanding of their motivations, behaviors, needs, and pain points through user surveys. This level of understanding is critical for determining the true value of the product in the market and ensuring it genuinely fulfils an actual customer need.
I've learned that concentrating solely on the solutions may result in incremental improvements to existing features, but by prioritizing the core problem (the actual job), I can unlock creativity and intentionality in devising innovative and highly effective solutions. This approach ensures that the product aligns perfectly with the customers' requirements and makes a meaningful impact in their lives. Ultimately, focusing on the problem space and customer needs is key to delivering successful and customer-centric products.
Designer Learnings:
Developer Learnings:
Developers Learnings:
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