University of Nebraska Medical Center
Lead UX Designer
Product design
UX/UI Design
Research
February 1, 2023
Patient-facing web and mobile application of an interactive 3D pelvic floor model for the College of Nursing. The efforts of Cera and the iEXCEL team garnered praise at the 2023 BioCommunications Association’s BioImages Juried exhibition, earning Images of Merit honors.
Jennifer Cera, DNP, UNMC College of Nursing clinical assistant professor, developed a 3D-Virtual reality pelvic model that earned honors at a recent visual media competition.
Jennifer Cera, DNP, UNMC College of Nursing clinical assistant professor, and Taylor Hedgecock, one of her DNP students, created one of six entries the iEXCEL Visualization team submitted to the BioCommunications Association’s BioImages Juried exhibition. The module earned an Images of Merit honor at the event’s juried exhibition.
Lead UX Designer, working hand-in-hand with Dr. Jennifer Cera and DNP student Taylor Hedgecock, along with our medical illustrators to create a patient-facing 3D Pelvic Floor web and mobile application.
Credits: My credited contributions
BioCommunications Association is an international professional association that holds an annual visual media competition and showcases the finest still images, illustration and graphic media and interactive and motion media work in the life sciences and medicine.
Dr. Cera first created a 3D-virtual reality pelvic model in collaboration with the iEXCEL team to develop an immersive simulation model that currently is used on the CAD Wall, zSpace and IWALL for nursing and medical students. The 3D-VR model enhances interprofessional student comprehension of pelvic anatomy, spatial relationships and the structure and function alterations accompanying a pelvic organ prolapse. Students can access the model via website or QR code on their smart devices and study any time without being on campus.
The 3D-VR model has been adapted into a patient education website and QR code, “Taking Control of Your Pelvic Floor,” which is accessible on any smart device. This interactive web-based learning provides patient education on the anatomy of the pelvic floor and provides tools for patients to improve pelvic floor health.
The learning module – optimized for mobile and standard desktop platforms – is intended for self-directed use after a clinical visit, whereby a health care provider would first do a walkthrough of the app with the patient. The interactive 3D model serves as an active learning method for patients to understand pelvic floor anatomy. Additionally, animations of pelvic floor exercises help with visualization of performance of correct pelvic floor muscle exercises and other lifestyle and behavior modifications.
Dr. Cera said the application aims to empower patients with knowledge of the pelvic floor so they can better understand their diagnosis and treatment. It also addresses the need for better access to pelvic floor health education to increase women’s overall quality of life.
The model has been incorporated into DNP research to evaluate whether 3D-VR patient education improves patient knowledge and self-efficacy in self-management of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, leading to decreased urinary incontinence and improved quality of life. Hedgecock, a women’s health nurse practitioner DNP student, is conducting the research at the Olson Center for Women’s Health at Nebraska Medicine under the advisement of Dr. Cera.
The efforts of Cera and the iEXCEL team garnered praise at the 2023 BioCommunications Association’s BioImages Juried exhibition, earning Images of Merit honors.
In total, UNMC programs submitted six entries in this year’s exhibition – five in the “Multimedia, Interactive Learning and Website” division and one to the “Illustration and Graphic Media division.”
Dr. Cera’s submission can be found here.
