Abbott has released the latest installment in the company’s multi-year Beyond Intervention series of global healthcare market research designed to uncover challenges that arise within the patient journey of people living with cardiovascular disease and to identify opportunities for patient care improvement.
The latest report stems from a survey of more than 2,000 patients, physicians and healthcare leaders, and 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.
Findings from Beyond Intervention identify key opportunities physicians, healthcare leaders and health technology companies may consider to improve the patient care journey. These include providing a comprehensive care experience to increase patient satisfaction, reducing barriers to post-intervention care, driving better experiences and outcomes, and involving patients in shared decision-making. The report underscores the differences in how patients, physicians and healthcare leaders perceive the effectiveness of technology in the care delivery system.
"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 behavioral change," said Nick West M.D., chief medical officer and divisional vice president of medical affairs at Abbott’s vascular business. “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.”
Key Research Findings
In its third year, the Beyond Intervention initiative provides continued insight into the state of global cardiovascular care through primary research surveying the perspectives of approximately 2,000 patients, physicians and healthcare leaders. The research provides further insight into the patient journey post-procedural/post-discharge and explores the attitudes and appetites to adopt technology to better help patients recover from vascular interventions.
Key insights from the research include:
- Patients, physicians and healthcare leaders agree that establishing multiple touchpoints help patients navigate their post-procedure care journey. Most patients surveyed (90%) believe 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.
- There are significant gaps between how patients and physicians view the importance of digital health tools. Patients consider access to an online patient portal and use of digital health tools more important to their overall experience (65% and 62%, respectively) than physicians feel they are for their patients (38% and 35%, respectively). Further, while patients indicated a need for improvement in these tools, physicians and healthcare leaders found the use of these tools as already satisfactory, indicating perception gaps.
- Patients are facing many barriers to managing their condition and experiencing optimal care post-intervention. Nearly half of the patients surveyed reported finding motivation and time to manage their condition was challenging. A similar proportion described ongoing costs related to treatment as a difficult task. Lack of education and awareness of the progressive nature of cardiovascular diseases is a significant barrier to post-procedural care and adherence.
- Many patients see technology’s value for managing their own health and wellness. Nearly 60% of patients and half of all healthcare leaders would trust artificial intelligence (AI) to help diagnose or recommend the best treatment; however, just over one-third of physicians agree (34-35%). Yet, 48% of physicians believe big data will help them provide better care in the future.
“Those who work at the intersection of healthcare and technology must straddle the digital divide and work toward greater use of technology in care,” said Jennifer McCaney, Ph.D., executive director at UCLA Biodesign. “We cannot assume that every person or patient has the access to or the means to interact with health systems or care teams in the same way. Stakeholders across the care journey from product manufacturers to payers and providers alike need to empower patients with accessible technologies that better the patient experience.”
Dr. Nick West, a former Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, and now Chief Medical Officer in Abbott’s vascular business, added: “Heart and circulatory disease causes over a quarter of all deaths in the UK every year (BHF). That’s why it’s more important than ever that we constantly assess the cardiovascular care experience for patients and look to ways that we could improve. Our research shows that healthcare leaders in the UK are open to integrating more new technologies and digital solutions into patient triage and treatment, and recognise the efficiencies and patient care benefits that they could deliver. Bringing patients and doctors along for that journey will be instrumental in improving heart health outcomes.”
