Co-creating with patients to address gaps in the patient-HCP dialogue
The Challenge
A global pharmaceutical company with deep expertise in the auto-immune space was preparing to launch a novel treatment into an increasingly crowded landscape.
Our client needed to develop a deep understanding of the unmet needs of patients and co-create solutions to support improved outcomes and experiences.
The Insight
Dissatisfied with the Clinical Encounter: Patients described symptoms and unmet needs that were having a devastating impact on their quality of life yet they often felt ignored in their clinical encounters with HCPs who were focused on clinical markers and testing.
Sub-Optimal Disease Management: Patients reported high frustration with HCPs who delayed switching sub-optimally managed patients to new treatments due to a fear that they would experience a loss of response.
The Result
Stakeholder Consultations: We leveraged low fidelity prototyping methods with a multi-stakeholder group to build solutions to address their pain points.
Prioritizing the Patient-Provider Dialogue: Patients were able to prioritize a critical moment – the conversation with the HCP when treatment was not working optimally – as a key moment where support was needed.
Refining a Patient Discussion Guide: Findings informed the refinement a patient discussion guide that enabled patients to be heard by the HCP and more effectively self advocate for new treatment consideration.