Kay McKeon

Biography

Name: Kay McKeon

Job Title: Research Assistant 

Organisation: University College Dublin 

Contact: (opens in a new window)kay.mckeon@ucd.ie

Work Experience:

I have amassed over 18 years’ graphic design experience working for design studios, as a freelancer and sole trader. I have worked on both sides of the design business – creative and client facing. My career path has been varied and non-linear. I am a life learner who is constantly evolving and diversifying my skill set and have pivoted my design experience to include the world of research.

Interrupted by Breast Cancer:

In 2017 at the age of 39, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was living in New Zealand at the time. The diagnosis came as a complete shock. After surgeries, I returned to live in Ireland in November 2017 and continued my adjuvant therapy here. I found the transition difficult. As a person affected by BC, I have lived experience of the information deficit in the Irish healthcare system.

Turning Experiences into Wisdom:

I am a patient advocate for the Irish Cancer Society, Breakthrough Cancer Research, PVCR and the PPI (Patient + Public Involvement) Champion for the Irish Association for Cancer Research. In 2022, I became a research assistant in UCD; a role funded by Breakthrough Cancer Research that allows me to continue my MA Design for Change study.

Research Outline 

Project Title: An Investigation into the Information Deficit Experienced by Breast Cancer Patients in Ireland. 

Context:

The information deficit is one of the top five unmet needs facing people affected by cancer in Ireland today. Currently 200,000 people in Ireland are living with or after a cancer diagnosis, which equates to 1 in every 25 of the population. The National Cancer Registry of Ireland predicts that this number will double by 2045.

Aim:

The study focuses on the specific information deficits experienced by participants and aims to highlight the issues that contribute to these gaps.

Research Design + Methodology:

This mixed method exploratory research explores the main aspects of this under-researched problem by using qualitative and quantitative methods. Data was collected through ten semi-structured interviews and three workshops which employed a Design Thinking approach and used Design Research tools.

Objectives:

• Create a design report which presents the gathered data from desktop research, interviews, and workshops.
• Create visual artefacts to reflect findings in the design report; a map of the identified national services, support and resources and a patient journey map detailing the information gaps and how people affected by breast cancer acquired information.
• Publish the findings as a peer reviewed publication.

You can learn more about my previous research by watching this (opens in a new window)interview.