Mumbai: Abbott’s latest instalment in their multi-year ‘Beyond Intervention’ series of global healthcare market research reveals challenges resulting from a systemic lack of adoption of consumer technologies by healthcare providers, a lack of post-surgical therapy compliance, and consumer dissatisfaction beyond intervention. The latest report stems from a survey of more than 2,000 patients, physicians, and healthcare leaders, and underscores the differences in how they perceive the effectiveness of technology in the care delivery system.
In its third year, the ‘Beyond Intervention’ research series’ latest instalment highlights that patients are facing many barriers to managing their condition and experiencing optimal care post-intervention. Nearly half of the patients surveyed reported that finding motivation and time to manage their condition was challenging for them. A similar proportion described ongoing costs related to treatment as a difficult task.
A troubling lack of education and awareness regarding the progressive nature of atherosclerotic vascular disease was also reported as a significant barrier to post-procedural patient care and adherence globally. Interestingly, in India, patients were proven to be more likely to understand that coronary artery disease (CAD) or peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a progressive lifelong condition than patients surveyed in other markets.
Additionally, Abott’s report proves that many patients see technology’s value in managing their health and wellness. Nearly 68 per cent of patients were found to be 39 per cent more likely than global patients to be interested in using wearable health trackers that passively measure health vitals and automatically send this information to physicians. Indian healthcare leaders were found to be 43 per cent more likely than global healthcare leaders to be interested in using wearable health trackers that automatically send information to physicians.
As per the latest report, more than half of the surveyed patients were interested in continuing to use telemedicine and wearable health trackers, some of which may automatically send their health information to physicians. Indian patients, who made up 72 per cent of the surveyed demographic, are 38 per cent more likely to be interested in using telemedicine than global patients, and 80 per cent of Indian healthcare leaders are also interested in telemedicine, compared to 72 per cent of the global population, the report suggested.
Commenting on the findings of the report, Nick West, Chief Medical Officer and Divisional Vice President, Medical Affairs, Abbott’s Vascular Business, said, “Increased penetration of smart devices, wearables, and remote self-monitoring tools not only provide granular data on recovery, progress, and adherence but critically drive patient engagement and therefore behavioural change. MedTech’s role is to find synergies between how patients and physicians prefer to access information to facilitate positive experiences and outcomes for all patients.”
Resonating West’s views on the importance of technology in healthcare, Dr Rony Mathew, Head of Department, Cardiology, Lisie Hospital, Kochi said, “Patients and physicians continue to value personal interactions. For integrating technology into the care continuum, we need to go beyond and focus on how that technology works for us to combat an unmet need. It’s important to see how that tech provides insights into a patient’s current condition and enables them and their physicians to devise personalised plans for optimal and better care.”
Beyond the importance of technology to elevate patient care experience, the latest instalment of ‘Beyond Intervention’ showed that patients, physicians, and healthcare leaders agree that establishing multiple touchpoints help patients navigate their post-procedure care journey. The surveyed demographic agreed that patient satisfaction is based on their comprehensive care experience, beyond the intervention.
Over 90 per cent of the patients surveyed believed that the two most important factors in navigating their care journey are having a clear understanding of the next steps in managing their disease and having all of their questions answered.