How can we understand the patient experience better and how it affects medication-taking behaviors? Jessica Lens-ter Berg writes on the myriad challenges patients face - beyond access and affordability - as they manage a health condition 💊
Understanding the patient experience is not the same as knowing how this or that specific medication is administered and if it’s well tolerated. Of course, it matters how it's taken, and what the side effects are. It's critical in fact. But that's really just one aspect of the experience of living with and managing a health condition. Here’s what else to find out so we know what practical, emotional and educational gaps and concerns to address to support patients optimally and reduce non-initiation, non-adherence, and early discontinuation. First, understand the indication(s) the medication is targeting. Notice if it’s complex to learn about it. Patients go through that too. Understand the disease course, what are key milestones; testing, visits, disease stages, periods of flare-ups/remission. Are there typical co-morbidities? How is the condition treated? Who is involved with that? Understand the day-to-day experience and impact of living with this condition: Are people in pain? Is the disease asymptomatic? What needs to change in their daily life and habits to manage the disease? What is the prognosis? Is the condition visible or not? Is there a stigma around it? What is the emotional impact of all of that? Look for this information in QoL articles, market research read-outs, or conduct some interviews, find patient blogs, etc. Then consider the obvious facts about the medication itself. Access, affordability, efficacy, administration, tolerability, polypharmacy, etc. We’ll talk about this more, but everything above (and so much more!) impacts medication taking behavior. By looking beyond the medication, a blueprint of services can be created that matches people’s needs and addresses barriers to optimal use. This helps patients achieve the best outcomes which in turn helps drive brand success. What resources do you use to learn about the patient experience? #Patientexperience #Patientengagement #Patientcentricity Shabbir Ahmed, Darren Stefano, Adam Bridges, Bret Montgomery
I help large Enterprise clients overcome Customer Experience Challenges with Genesys Cloud. I engage through servant leadership, self-mastery, and a relentless commitment to the "process" not the results.
1wGreat share Jessica. Q: Do you factor in the caregiver experience as well? Martha Hopkins, PharmD, MBA talks about this a bit in her newsletter - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mastering-medication-adherence-proven-strategies-martha-8mhne/