Problem Statement
Understand
Boil down complex issues into one clear sentence.
The problem is that older adults in semi-urban areas recovering from heart attacks struggle to follow post-discharge care because instructions assume high health literacy and digital access, which results in missed appointments, poor medication adherence, and preventable complications. How might we support older adults in semi-urban areas recovering from heart attacks to follow post-discharge care, even when health literacy and digital access are limited?
Steps
Identify the user or group
Ask: Who is experiencing the problem?
Be specific (e.g., “rural nurses,” “teenage patients,” “new parents”).
Describe the core issue
Ask: What challenge or pain point are they facing?
Focus on what they experience.
Name the root cause
Ask: Why is this happening?
Dig beyond symptoms to identify the underlying reason.
Explain the consequence
Ask: What happens as a result of this issue?
Think in terms of outcomes, impact, or missed opportunities.
Write the problem statement
“The problem is that [user/group] is experiencing [issue] because [cause], which results in [consequence].”
Turn your perspective into action
Using "How might we" questions is a way to turn problems into open-ended, optimistic questions that spark creative solutions. It reframes challenges.
“How might we solve [a specific problem]?”
Tip: ask yourself whether your question allows for multiple possible answers. If it leads to only one, it’s too narrow and should be broadened. At the same time, avoid making it so broad that it loses focus.
Based on the ideas of Stanford d.school.
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