Living with severe allergies means carrying the constant possibility of an emergency. For people with food allergies, their families, and caregivers, one of the most daunting moments comes when symptoms appear. Is this serious enough to use epinephrine? Should I wait and see, or act now? Hesitation in those seconds can feel paralyzing, yet prompt action with epinephrine is often lifesaving.

A recent user research and design effort explored this challenge. The focus was on understanding the needs of those who live with allergies every day. We talked with patients themselves, caregivers (often parents), clinicians specializing in allergy and emergency medicine, and community experts. Through one-on-one interviews and thoughtful prototyping, the work revealed insights that can guide anyone developing tools to support decision-making and education.

Two Distinct User Groups, Two Different Needs

Participants naturally fell into two broad categories, each approaching emergencies and education differently:

• Recently diagnosed users tend to favor a clear, decisive stance: administer epinephrine quickly whenever a severe reaction seems possible. They often prefer not to pause for an app-guided decision in the heat of the moment. Rather, they value educational resources that build foundational knowledge and reinforce when to act without delay.
• Long-time users (those with years of experience managing allergies) frequently seek guidance during uncertain situations. This includes scenarios involving teenagers, partners, or others who share decision-making responsibility. For them, step-by-step support to weigh symptoms, consider context, and arrive at a confident choice can reduce second-guessing.

These differences highlight why a one-size-fits-all tool falls short. Effective design must accommodate varying experience levels, readiness to engage, and emotional states during rare but high-stakes events.

Key Themes from Participants

Across clinicians, experts, patients, and caregivers, several consistent priorities emerged:

• Uncertainty is the core challenge. Many described distress when interpreting physical changes, including feeling uneasy, expecting the worst, or worrying about making the "wrong" choice. Cognitive uncertainty also plays a role. People like to plan ahead, prepare thoroughly, and know exactly what to do next. Stressful situations amplify discomfort when answers aren't clear, while non-stressful moments can still trigger unease for some.
• Emotional and cognitive load in the moment. Both caregivers and people with allergies reported apprehension when unexpected symptoms occurred. Caregivers often feel more uncomfortable without immediate answers in high-pressure scenarios, while those with allergies may feel bothered by uncertainty even in calmer times. Yet most can remain reasonably calm overall when supported.
• Vocabulary and accessibility matter. Clear, simple language, at roughly a 6th-grade reading level, is essential. Terms must be developed collaboratively with allergy community representatives to ensure accuracy, empathy, and relatability.
• Engagement depends on design quality. Aesthetics, usability, and performance directly influence whether people adopt and rely on the tool. Since primary use is emergent (and hopefully rare), periodic gentle reminders that the app exists on their phone can help keep it top-of-mind.
• Education is ongoing support. Beyond emergencies, users want features that build confidence in allergy management overall, helping them learn, understand risks, and make informed choices for the future.

The Power of Listening and Iterating

The process began with conversations to capture context: recent experiences with reactions, how action plans are used (or not), desires for education, and thoughts on a mobile decision-aid tool. Insights directly shaped interactive prototypes. Feedback refined the design in iterations. Users had multiple opportunities to describe what felt intuitive, what reduced friction, and what built trust.

All participants agreed that an engaging, supportive platform could positively impact outcomes by boosting confidence, reducing uncertainty, and empowering better decision-making.

Why This Matters for Human-Centered Design in Healthcare

In life-threatening situations, tools succeed when they respect human realities, such as fear, variability in experience, the need for clarity under pressure, and the desire for control. By starting with diverse voices, clinicians for medical accuracy, experts for community perspective, and end-users for lived experience, the resulting guidance is both trustworthy and practical.

At POMIET, this reflects our commitment to human-machine teaming in complex domains. Machines can deliver structured decision paths, reminders, and educational content; humans bring context, emotion, and judgment. When designed thoughtfully, the partnership eases uncertainty without adding cognitive load. It provides peace of mind, allowing people to focus on their own and their loved ones' safety.

These findings offer practical guidance for anyone tackling similar challenges: prioritize user segmentation, simplicity in language and interface, proactive reminders, and iterative testing with actual users. The result isn't just an app, it’s a tool that genuinely supports families when they need it most.

As one mom said, “I’m so excited about this! You are going to save lives with this!”