  Stigma, a recognized global barrier to effective disease management, impacts
social interactions, resource access, and psychological well-being. In this
study, we developed a patient-centered framework for deriving design
requirements and interventions for health conditions subject to social stigma.
This study introduces a patient-centered framework, grounded in sociotechnical
systems theory, to create tailored interventions and design requirements for
health conditions influenced by social stigma. We tested this framework through
a mixed-method study on chronic pelvic pain patients. Our approach led to the
identification of ten design requirements that encompass behavioral and
psychological support and strategies for day-to-day living. The findings reveal
a preference among CPP patients for priming and social support interventions.
This study underscores the value of a systems-based perspective in healthcare,
advocating for a nuanced, patient-centered approach that addresses the complex
nature of health conditions affected by social stigma. It contributes to the
ongoing discourse on integrating STS theory into healthcare frameworks,
highlighting the need for targeted strategies to combat the complexities of
stigma in patient care.
