The Changing Patient-Physician Relationship Part 1: The Patient's Perspective

Published by: Datamonitor

Published: Jan. 3, 2006 - 40 Pages

Table of Contents

Outline of the brief

Two key things you need to know about the changing patient-physician relationship from the patient's perspective

Datamonitor recommends that pharmaceutical companies focus on disease and treatment information on their consumer-facing websites and include printable information for patients to present and discuss with their doctors.

Datamonitor believes that the trend towards consumerism in healthcare creates more opportunities for investments in disease management and compliance tools. High demand for disease management tools by consumers reflects the fact that patients want to take a more active role in their healthcare.

Overview

The patient-physician relationship is an evolving relationship, which has changed dramatically in the last few years.

A changing environment impacts relationships among patients, physicians and pharmaceutical companies and forces all players to be involved in creating health networks that form strong healthcare brands.

Patients as consumers

Internet's role on the patient-physician interaction

Most importantly, the Internet is driving consumers to change the way they interact with their doctors.

Although word-of-mouth remains the most influential source of information for patients, online sources are gaining traction across all major markets in the US, Europe and Japan

Consumers want the Internet to play a role in how they interact with their doctor but have yet to form strong preferences as to how

In all major markets, surveyed consumers would like to use the Internet to improve their interactions with their physician

Technology: Online services

Apart from using online sources for health information, patients are also interested in Internet-enabled services; yet many of them are not aware of these services

Consumers would like to use a range of technology-enabled services not only during a physicians' visit but also when interacting with their health plan

Technology: Disease management tools

Disease management tools and compliance tools are in high demand by patients in Europe, US and Japan

Consumers want to access disease management tools not only through their physician but also through their health plans

The preferred types of online disease management tools are asking a nurse or a professional questions online or online health/risk assessment surveys

Text messages to mobile phones and email reminders are the channels most in demand by consumers

Technology: Mobile technologies

Mobile phones with Internet connection are regularly used by consumers for several health-related activities

Cost and concerns about security of information are the main obstacles the deter consumers from using mobile solutions

Key findings

Datamonitor recommends that pharmaceutical companies focus on disease and treatment information on their consumer-facing websites and include printable information for patients to present and discuss with their doctors.

Datamonitor believes that the trend towards consumerism in healthcare creates more opportunities for investments in disease management and compliance tools. High demand for disease management tools by consumers reflects the fact that patients want to take a more active role in their healthcare.

Datamonitor's research shows that mobile technologies, such as PDAs/handheld/blackberry devices, remain low in use by patients. Yet, adoption of mobile phones with Internet connection is high and patients are interested in using their Internet-enabled mobile phones as a disease management tool.

List of figures

Research methodology

Datamonitor's 2005 eHealth Consumer Insight Surveys

References

Future readings

SPP writing team

List of Figures

Figure 1: Private healthcare spending which includes out-of-pocket spending has been increasing steadily in the last few years.

Figure 2: The Internet is driving consumers to take specific actions regarding their healthcare

Figure 3: Online sources are gaining traction across all major markets in the US, Europe and Japan

Figure 4: Consumers want the Internet to play a role in how they interact with their doctor but have yet to form strong preferences as to how

Figure 5: Surveyed consumers would like to use the Internet to improve their interactions with their physician

Figure 6: Apart from using online sources for health information, patients are also interested in Internet-enabled services; yet many of them are not aware of these services

Figure 7: Consumers would like to use a range of technology-enabled services with their health plan

Figure 8: Disease management tools and compliance tools are in high demand by patients in Europe, US and Japan

Figure 9: Consumers want to access disease management tools not only through their physician but also through their health plans

Figure 10: Preferred types of online disease management tools by patients

Figure 11: Text messages to mobile phones and email reminders are the channels most in demand by consumers

Figure 12: Use of mobile solutions as compared to paper and desktop use by surveyed patients

Figure 13: Use of mobile solutions by surveyed patients

Figure 14: Mobile phones with Internet connection are regularly used by consumers for several health-related activities

Figure 15: Cost and concerns about security of information are the main obstacles the deter consumers from using mobile solutions

Figure 16: Consumers are interested in accessing disease and treatment information and discussing it with their doctor

Figure 17: High demand for disease management tools by consumers reflects the fact that patients want to take a more active role in their healthcare.

Figure 18: Patient's demand for receiving reminder messages on their Internet-enabled mobile phone is high

Figure 19: Types of reminder messages consumers currently received on their Internet-enabled mobile phones

Abstract

• Investigation of the dynamics of the patient-physician relationship
• Introduction to the way patients view the role of the Internet in their interaction with physicians
• Assessment of the impact of mobile technologies on the patient-physician relationship and of the obstacles that prevent their adoption by consumers
• Recommendations for online strategies to influence and facilitate patient's interaction with their physician

• Pharmaceutical companies should focus on disease and treatment information on their consumer-facing websites and include printable information for patients to present and discuss with their doctors.
• The general trend towards consumerism in healthcare creates more opportunities for investments in disease management and compliance tools.
• High demand for disease management tools by consumers reflects the fact that patients want to take a more active role in their healthcare.

• Understand the dynamics of the patient-physician relationship and the market trends driving its evolution
• Identify key selected technologies that have an impact on the patient-physician relationship
• Understand the importance of designing personable and engaging online disease management tools

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