The Patient’s Perspective – 4 Approaches to Patient-Centric Research

In what ways does your condition impact your daily life?

Do you have any difficulties taking the medication you’ve been prescribed?

These types of questions are gaining increasing importance as health research and pharmaceutical companies recognise the value of the patient’s perspective. The knowledge they can contribute acts as a balance to the science and has the potential to improve therapies and identify unmet needs.

“A more collaborative approach to drug developments that takes into account the patient view will result in optimized medicines with better usability for the patient and acceptability that will finally help to achieve the desired therapeutic compliance.”

– Sven Stegemann

Learning From Patients

Thorough knowledge of a disease combines a range of perspectives in order to arrive at an understanding that includes both the theoretical and the lived experience.

The patient’s perspective allows our clients in the pharma and medical device sectors to:

• Understand a product’s barriers to use.
• Recognise the users’ expectations of a product.
• Develop design features which encourage compliance.
• Learn how language used in instructions or campaigns ‘lands’ with users.
• Discover how to tailor their product to their user’s needs.

“The research was great to be a part of. A great experience where I felt like my ideas were appreciated and taken seriously. It was great to see how the company was looking for advice from the people that the adverts/ products were aimed at.”

4 LDA Research Approaches to Patient-Centric Research

LDA Research specialises in medical market research involving patients and HCPs treating rare, or orphan diseases. We have 4 types of approach to patient-centric research, each one of which can be customised according to the needs of our client.

1. In-Depth Interviews. These can be carried out on a landline, mobile or in person. Our experienced moderators learn a huge amount from patients by asking them about their daily routine, taking medication, and their relationships with HCPs.
2. Focus Groups. The online focus group is particularly valued by clients as they are able to watch the discussion and feed in specific questions via the moderator. Focus groups tend to act as a valuable experience for patients too, as they are able to share experiences and open up about living with their condition.
3. Ethnographic Study. Some patients are hesitant about discussing their experience with other patients, or a moderator. At LDA we offer alternatives that provide valuable insights into their lived experience. This may take the form of a diary, audio or video entries over a period of time.
4. Social Media Community. Patients are turning to social media forums that enable them to share experiences, offer support, learn from others, and improve their relationship with their HCP. LDA Research has ‘The Voice of the Patient’ on Facebook which provides UK patients with opportunities to participate in surveys, polls and research.

“As a paraplegic of over 25 years I have a vast experience of using catheters and other urology related equipment. So, it was fantastic to be involved in R&D sessions, run by LDA. It’s the first time I really felt listened to in this regard. I feel sure with this method of designing products, ie actively listening to the end user, we will certainly see some innovative products from medical companies in the future.”

Working With LDA Research

LDA Research has a decade of experience recruiting patients for participation in medical market research studies. We use professional moderators and interviewers with previous experience in medical companies or from senior roles in specialist healthcare market research. Their in-depth knowledge allows them draw out compelling insights from patients.

LDA Research team are experts when it comes to locating hard-to-reach patients for participation in medical market research. Give us a call to find out more – 01525 861436