User Stories & Problem Scenarios
Understanding the patients, caregivers, and their journey through the clinical trial maze.
👥 Primary User Personas
Persona #1: Determined Patient David
Age 45-60 | Stage 2-3 Cancer Patient | Tech: Medium
Demographics
Age: 52
Location: Suburban Midwest
Occupation: Marketing Director
Income: $120K/year
Health: Metastatic colorectal cancer, diagnosed 8 months ago
Tech Profile
Devices: iPhone, MacBook
Comfort: Uses apps for banking, telehealth
Frustration: Medical portals with poor UX
Research: 2-3 hours/week searching for options
Background Story
David was diagnosed after routine screening showed abnormalities. Standard chemotherapy has shown limited effectiveness, and his oncologist mentioned "exploring clinical trials" as a next step. David feels overwhelmed by the medical system but is determined to fight. He spends evenings after work researching options while trying to maintain normalcy for his family. He's financially stable but worried about treatment costs and time away from work. Success for David means finding a trial that could extend his life with quality time, without bankrupting his family.
Current Pain Points
- Information Overload: ClinicalTrials.gov shows 1,200+ colorectal cancer trials. No way to filter meaningfully.
- Medical Jargon: Eligibility criteria read like legal documents. Doesn't understand "ECOG performance status 0-1" requirements.
- Geographic Confusion: Finds promising trial but it's 500 miles away. No travel cost estimates.
- Time Sink: Spends 6-8 hours weekly cross-referencing trials with his medical records.
- No Tracking: Forgets which trials he's reviewed, which are recruiting, which have closed.
- Emotional Toll: Each dead end feels like losing hope. Anxiety spikes with each search session.
Goals & Desired Outcomes
Primary: Find 3-5 viable clinical trial options within 200 miles within 2 weeks.
Secondary: Understand what participation actually involves before contacting coordinators.
Emotional: Feel empowered and hopeful rather than overwhelmed.
Success Metric: Schedule consultations with at least 2 trial sites.
Buying Behavior & Adoption
Trigger: Oncologist suggests exploring trials after current treatment plateau.
Research: Asks in patient support groups, searches Google, tries existing apps.
Decision Criteria: 1) Trustworthiness 2) Time savings 3) Cost
Budget: Willing to pay $20-30/month if it genuinely saves 5+ hours weekly.
Barriers: Privacy concerns about health data, skepticism about AI accuracy.
Persona #2: Caregiver Chloe
Age 35-50 | Daughter & Full-time Employee | Tech: High
Demographics
Age: 42
Location: Urban East Coast
Occupation: Software Product Manager
Income: $140K/year
Situation: Mother (72) with rare autoimmune disorder
Tech Profile
Devices: Multiple, tech-savvy
Comfort: Expert at research, data analysis
Frustration: Medical information fragmentation
Time: 10-15 hours/week caregiving duties
Background Story
Chloe's mother was diagnosed with a rare form of vasculitis 18 months ago. Standard treatments have severe side effects. Chloe manages her mother's care while working full-time and raising two children. She's the family's "medical researcher" but feels guilty she hasn't found better options. She needs to translate complex medical information for her siblings and father. Success means finding promising trials, presenting clear options to the family, and managing logistics so her mother can participate without overwhelming stress.
Current Pain Points
- Information Broker: Must digest complex info then simplify for family. No tools help with translation.
- Time Pressure: Researches after kids' bedtime. Loses progress between sessions.
- Logistical Nightmare: Trial site 90 minutes away. No help with travel, accommodation planning.
- Communication Burden: Re-explains same trial details to different family members repeatedly.
- Elderly Tech Barriers: Mother can't navigate complex interfaces. Chloe does everything.
- Emotional Burnout: Feels solely responsible for finding "the answer."
Buying Behavior & Adoption
Trigger: Current treatment stops working or side effects become intolerable.
Research: Medical journals, specialized forums, asks in rare disease communities.
Decision Criteria: 1) Time efficiency 2) Collaboration features 3) Accuracy
Budget: Willing to pay $50+/month if it saves 10+ hours weekly and improves outcomes.
Barriers: Needs to trust platform with sensitive family medical data.
📖 "Day in the Life" Scenarios
Scenario #1: "Sunday Night Research Marathon"
Who: Determined Patient David
When: Sunday, 8 PM-1 AM, weekly ritual
Where: Home office, laptop with 15 open tabs
What: Trying to find trials matching his specific biomarkers
Current Experience (Before Solution)
David opens ClinicalTrials.gov and searches "colorectal cancer KRAS mutation." 247 results. He clicks the first one. The eligibility section reads: "Histologically confirmed metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma with KRAS G12C mutation. ECOG performance status 0-1. Adequate bone marrow, hepatic, and renal function per protocol." He doesn't know his ECOG status. He opens another tab to Google it. Returns, still confused.
He finds a promising trial at a major cancer center. Clicks "Contacts and Locations." Sees principal investigator email. Drafts email asking if they accept patients from his state. No response expected until business days.
Two hours later, he has 5 potential trials open. He opens Excel to track them. Creates columns: Name, Location, Phase, Status, Notes. Manually copies data. Forgets what "Phase 1b/2a" means. Opens another tab. His notes are incomplete. He'll have to ask his oncologist about 3 trials tomorrow, but won't remember his specific questions.
At 1 AM, frustrated and exhausted, he saves his spreadsheet. Has 5 trials logged but understands none fully. Spends 5 hours for incomplete understanding.
📋 User Stories
| Priority | User Story | Acceptance Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| P0 | As a newly diagnosed patient I want to search trials by my specific condition and biomarkers So that I see only relevant options immediately |
1. Search returns trials matching entered condition 2. Biomarker filters reduce results appropriately 3. Results load under 3 seconds |
| P0 | As a patient confused by medical jargon I want to see eligibility criteria in plain language So that I understand if I might qualify |
1. Each criterion has "What this means" explanation 2. Plain language version appears beside medical terms 3. Includes examples of who qualifies |
| P0 | As a caregiver managing multiple options I want to save and organize trials into lists So that I can compare them and share with family |
1. Save trial with one click 2. Create multiple named lists (e.g., "Top Options," "Maybe") 3. Export list as PDF or shareable link |
| P1 | As a patient considering travel I want to see trial locations on a map with distance So that I can evaluate logistical feasibility |
1. Map shows all trials within radius 2. Driving distance/time calculated 3. Nearby accommodations suggested |
| P1 | As a patient tracking my search progress I want to get notified when trial status changes So that I don't miss recruitment windows |
1. Email/push notifications for status changes 2. Weekly digest of saved trials 3. Alerts when new matching trials appear |
| P2 | As a patient with complex medical history I want to import my health records securely So that the system can match me more accurately |
1. FHIR integration with major EHRs 2. Manual entry fallback option 3. Match score based on actual health data |
🎯 Jobs-to-be-Done Framework
Job #1: Evaluate trial feasibility quickly
When I find a potentially matching trial
I want to understand the practical requirements and likelihood of acceptance
So I can decide whether to pursue it or keep looking
Functional: Compare criteria against my situation, calculate travel logistics, estimate time commitment
Emotional: Feel hopeful but realistic, avoid false hope, reduce anxiety about unknowns
Social: Be able to discuss options knowledgeably with family and doctors
Current Alternatives: Manual spreadsheet, asking in patient forums, consulting doctors (slow)
Underserved: Quick assessment, integrated logistics, personalized matching
📊 Problem Validation Evidence
| Problem | Evidence Type | Source | Data Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients can't find relevant trials | Survey | American Cancer Society | Only 3-5% of cancer patients enroll in trials, though 70% would consider |
| Eligibility criteria too complex | Forum Analysis | Cancer Patient Subreddits | 1,200+ monthly posts asking "what does this trial requirement mean?" |
| Geographic barriers limit access | Research Study | Journal of Clinical Oncology | Median travel distance to trial site: 186 miles, creates 30% dropout rate |
| Information fragmentation | User Interviews | Patient Advocacy Groups | Patients use 4-6 different tools/sites to research one trial |
🔄 Scenarios with Solution
Scenario: "Sunday Night Research Marathon" (After Solution)
With Clinical Trial Navigator:
David opens the app Sunday at 8 PM. He selects "Colorectal Cancer" from his saved conditions. The app shows his previously entered biomarkers (KRAS G12C mutation, ECOG 1). He taps "Find New Trials."
In 30 seconds, 12 matching trials appear with match scores (85%, 72%, 68%). He taps the 85% match. The eligibility criteria appear with plain language explanations: "ECOG 0-1: You need to be able to care for yourself and do light activities." ✓ He qualifies.
The trial page shows a map—it's 142 miles away. Estimated travel: 2.5 hours each way. The app suggests nearby extended-stay hotels with patient rates. He saves the trial to "Top Options" list.
He reviews the "Patient Brief"—a one-page summary explaining the trial's purpose, what visits involve, potential side effects. He shares it directly with his wife via text message.
By 9:15 PM, David has 3 strong candidates saved, understands them fully, and has shared details with family. He sets notifications for if any change status. He feels informed, not overwhelmed.
| Metric | Before | After | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time spent | 5 hours | 1.25 hours | 75% reduction |
| Frustration level | 9/10 | 3/10 | 67% improvement |
| Trials understood | 0 fully understood | 3 fully understood | Complete clarity |
| Actionable next steps | 1 email drafted | 3 trials saved, shared, logistics planned | 300% more progress |
🗺️ User Journey Friction Points
| Stage | User Action | Friction Points | Emotional State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awareness | Doctor mentions "clinical trials" | No clear starting point, overwhelming options | Anxious, overwhelmed |
| Research | Searches online, finds ClinicalTrials.gov | Medical jargon, no filtering, information overload | Confused, frustrated |
| Evaluation | Tries to understand if trials fit situation | Can't interpret criteria, no logistics info | Discouraged, hopeless |
| Decision | Chooses which trials to pursue | No comparison tools, hard to track options | Uncertain, fearful |
| Contact | Reaches out to trial coordinators | Unclear what to ask, long response times | Impatient, anxious |
| Participation | Enrolls and participates in trial | No ongoing tracking, lose access to info | Isolated, unsupported |