ABSTRACT
Medical devices are primarily designed for adult use, resulting in adolescents with chronic conditions using products which have been designed with little or no consideration for their specific needs. This can lead to ineffective use and low compliance. This paper investigates such issues via the analyses of qualitative data obtained through a workshop involving healthy adolescent proxy users. The results show that adolescents are interested in the aesthetics, usability and acceptance of devices. It is evident from this study that if given the opportunity and appropriate methods, adolescents can be useful and enthusiastic participants in research and design.
