In the fast-changing, dynamic healthcare structure, the voice of the patient is becoming increasingly powerful. It’s clear to the pharma world today, that it’s important to have their health practices aligned to enhance consumer experience while adding value to their patients to remain competitive in the market. In this era of digitalisation, the patients have access to an array of information about healthcare products and options available to them, which has made it essential for pharma companies to treat patients as active recipients. 

Technology is seeping in for clinical trial designing to help gather more patient-reported outcomes, manage subject preferences, upgrade patient lifestyle and improve disease progression and management. By understanding the patient expectations and ground reality, the pharma companies can now improve on disease management at critical stages. Wearable sensors, remote patient monitoring, virtual clinical trial visits and social media forums has transformed clinical research conduct to better engage patients and report outcomes on a real time basis. This, digitalisation process of healthcare has given patients a personal touch in their clinical trial journey.

Technology is reducing costs & redundancy

Low enrolment and high costs are a great barrier for pharma companies in being successful. Today there are promising alternatives to improve trial efficiency and bring down costs. Use of electronic alternatives have permitted data capturing remotely via electronic initiatives. E-health records have improved accuracy and has eased patient identification and data gathering processes. The designing of clinical trials too have become enriched and adaptive with a pragmatic approach to include the feedback of patients which has facilitated better participation, retention while reducing overall costs and burden on caregivers.

Social Platforms Has Given Life to Patient Engagement

Smart phones, smart watches and laptops have become a daily gizmo. The digital patient today has access to online information and connect on social forums across boarders easily. Pharma companies are tapping into the use of such social platforms to improve on patient engagement. This has helped solitary patients to feel more comforted and motivated in their peer groups giving hope to life. The patients now have better and updated information on disease outcomes. The use of digital engagement helps drive a better experience in patient monitoring too and trial adherence.

Traditionally, communication channels have been centred between pharma companies and Physicians where Physicians passed information to patients. However, the use of smart devices, have made it easier for pharma companies to link with patients directly. Today Pharma companies are using social media tools to disseminate information as well as understand what patients are discussing online about the state of their disease and how they feel on being on a particular clinical trial. With increased acceptance of social media usage globally, the pharma companies are reaching out to social media to help with recruitment and retention of patients.

A good example is the pilot study done on Chinese Glucoma patients, which encouraged enhancing their physical activity rates. WeChat Social Media and Messaging which is very popular in China was used to disseminate information on educative materials as well as assisted in enrolling the intervention group. Further, the platform helped in making motivational incentives and sending reminders for exercise. (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03567226)

 Technology easing the Patient Life Style and improving expectations

Evidence based medicine has improved by leaps and bounds with the use of digital biomarkers. Wearables and sensors linked to daily devices like smart phones and watches have helped with the real time transfer of patient vitals and other social and demographic parameters. This has eased unnecessary visits to the clinic setting and helped improve the patient lifestyle, reducing burden on caregivers. Patients with chronic, prolonged illnesses are not usually mobile, making travel difficult. Such devices have come as a saviour passing real time data to physicians who can analyze the details and take quick decisions on their patients to deliver optimum care.

The free medical app created by 3H Clinical trial LTD called the 3H P-Guardian has been of utmost use for patients and clinical trial subjects. It helps patients compile and maintain their symptoms electronically following treatment and is a real example of easing patient life style. The monitoring of the symptoms of patients are done by healthcare professionals, through electronic patient reported outcomes. If there are adverse events noted, it can be dealt with easily by the medical staff. This app has given an opportunity for maintenance of personal health records easily.

Technology that play a vital role in driving patient centricity as well as some of the technological experience currently happing in Japan market are:

·      EverBeat: A convenient wrist-based device, which helps to continuously monitor atrial fibrillation from the comfort of home. This device has strengthened the cardiologist-patient relationship to reveal real time clinical grade ECG. High risk patients with cardiovascular disease can now be closely monitored from where they are by 3H with these ECG patches.

·      ResApp: This user-friendly smartphone app, helps detect paediatric and adult respiratory diseases. 3H has successfully used it as a cough counter to instantly detect clinical quality respiratory symptoms of trial subjects with direct management by healthcare providers.

·      Online tools by Canary: Patients who live with chronic diseases need additional support and motivation to control their disease. These online tools for self-management of chronic disease management, empower patients better giving them more confidence. 3H too believes that empowering patients, gives them better control over their disease management.

·      3-D Pro: Taking height measurements just got easy with this app. One just has to point onto the floor and face to give the tested height using artificial intelligence. Vital signs are an important parameter for a clinical trial and such technology makes taking measurements all the more easier.

Technology has redefined the drug development process. Digital wearables have eased patient medical data transfer and web-based platforms have improved patient engagement. This way the pharma companies have been able to improve on their trial designs, lower costs and remove redundancy 

To Know more about Clinical Trial in Asia, please reach out to imran@3h-ms.co.jp