In the high-pressure environment of healthcare market research, it is easy to view participants as data points within a quota. At ekas, we understand that successful research relies on recognising the human being behind the diagnosis.
To ensure the integrity of your results and the stability of your timelines, every stage of the study must be designed with the patient’s unique reality in mind.
Here is how we optimise the research experience to be truly patient-centric.
1. Patient-Centricity Starts with the Language
The screener is often a patient’s first interaction with your study, and it sets the tone for the entire engagement. Patients are experts in their own lived experiences, but they are rarely trained in advanced healthcare lingo.
- Avoid “Marketing-Speak”: Screeners should be patient-friendly rather than relying on repetitive or clinical terminology that can cause confusion
- Clarify Condition Subtypes: A patient may know they have “hives” but might not recognise the technical term “urticaria”
- Provide Full Descriptions: Ensuring the respondent understands the terms used allows them to confidently select the appropriate category and reduces the risk of excluding qualified participants
2. Respecting the Logistics of Chronic Illness
A patient-centric study acknowledges that research must fit into a participant’s life, not disrupt it. Many patients manage debilitating symptoms that limit their ability to stay active or adhere to rigid schedules.
- Optimise for Accessibility: Surveys should be tablet and mobile-friendly so participants can complete them in comfortable settings or during travel to appointments
- Be Mindful of Physical Limitations: We must remain aware that some participants, particularly older patients, may not be comfortable with certain hardware like webcams or complex digital platforms
- Commit to Realistic Timelines: Recruiting specific patient profiles requires patience; rushing a timeline can impact respondent quality and the overall feasibility of the project
3. Protecting Integrity Through Human-Led Verification
Ensuring the reliability of the end result is our primary goal. High-quality data is reliant on a tried and tested protocol for participant access and verification.
- Medication Validation: Requesting proof of medication or device usage is a professional standard that ensures participants truly meet the study criteria
- Broadening the Reach: We utilise dynamic profiling to reach participants across 225 unique conditions, ensuring we find the right fit for even the most specific studies
- The Importance of Empathy: Our specialists are encouraged to spend time hearing a patient’s story, which fosters a sense of purpose and improves the quality of the insights provided
Conclusion
As your fieldwork partner with a global reach, ekas provides the expertise needed to navigate the complexities of patient research. By adopting an empathetic, human-led approach across the entire research journey, we ensure your studies deliver accurate results that truly reflect the authentic patient voice.
Are you ready to elevate your patient research? Let’s build a research strategy together that protects data integrity while respecting the patient experience. Get in touch with our specialist team today at info@ekas.com.au.
