McKesson Patient Relationship Solutions research finds that patients seek personalized healthcare information
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — New patient research commissioned by McKesson Patient Relationship Solutions identified emerging trends in medication adherence, the use of co-pay cards, and attitudes towards healthcare providers, including both physicians and pharmacists. According to the research, an increasing number of patients do not fully understand their medical condition and are more interested in personal communications from their healthcare practitioners around their condition. And increasingly, that communication is coming from their neighborhood pharmacist.
While patients are concerned about their condition and committed to working to remain healthy, an increasing number do not fully understand their condition. Compared to previous patient research conducted by MPRS, 61% of patients were more concerned about their condition than any other health issue in 2014 versus only 33% in 2011. However, more patients indicated they do not understand their condition compared to 2011. Nearly one-third (31%) of patients wish their doctor would spend more time with them to explain their condition and their medication. While 80% claim to be compliant and take their medications as directed, an increasing number of patients claim to be more forgetful or careless about taking their medication or stop taking it when they feel better.
However, patients are more informed and engaged in their own healthcare than ever before. Research shows that patients are less interested in general information about their condition and more interested in personal communications from various healthcare industry players in the form of missed prescription reminders (89%), refill reminders (87%), live phone support (86%) and pharmacist coaching (83%). This provides an opportunity for physicians, pharmacists, payers and pharmaceutical manufacturers to integrate efforts designed to better manage health and chronic disease, optimize patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs.
And patients are increasingly satisfied (94%) with their primary retail pharmacy experience and today, more than half (52%) rely on their pharmacist for information about their medication, including side effects. While physicians (47%) remain the primary source from which patients learn about co-pay cards and discount options, an increasing number are seeking information from their pharmacist (34%) and other sources. More than one third (36%) of patients indicated that they have asked their pharmacist about options for lower cost medications and 71% indicated they would be more likely to fill their prescription if the pharmacist provided a medication discount card/coupon.
“Improving medication adherence is a key driver of reform and quality of patient care is rapidly becoming a primary metric for how healthcare providers are evaluated. Through the application of innovative behavioral techniques designed to help patients overcome both financial and clinical barriers to adherence, we are extremely proud to offer a comprehensive suite of programs and solutions designed to help achieve healthier patient outcomes and our research reinforces that success starts with understanding the patient,” stated Derek Rago, VP/general manager, McKesson Patient Relationship Solutions.“As the industry shifts from a transactional healthcare system to a highly integrated, value-based model, the role of the retail pharmacist is rapidly evolving. As one of the most trusted and accessible community healthcare professionals, retail pharmacy is now driving innovation designed to deliver patient education, adherence support, and financial assistance.”
The research spanned across six therapeutic categories and findings were compared to MPRS’s 2011 patient research. Highlights of the findings were recently presented at the CBI Coupon and Co-Pay Off-set Strategies conference, where MPRS, a division of McKesson, served as the educational sponsor.
In conjunction with American Pharmacists Month, MPRS also announced that it has developed a detailed discussion of the growing role of pharmacists in medication adherence and quality patient care. Download “The Transformation of Pharmacy: Understanding and Leveraging the Rapidly Changing Retail Environment” whitepaper from McKesson.