With the consumer desire for the use of information technology in the realm of health care, and the compliance of health care professionals to use information technology to manage their patients, we can expect an onslaught of health care focused Web sites in the near future. When users are seeking information regarding their health care, it is important that they find the information quickly and effortlessly, without anxiety.
A user-centered design process can improve a Web site's visual style, organization, and content, among other things. This thesis explores the use of the Web for women with breast cancer, and defines preliminary design principles and direction for use in health-based Web sites. These preliminary explorations are conducted using a user-centered design process that includes heuristic reviews, surveys, prototyping, and focus groups.