The importance of patient support in many therapy areas is undisputed. Additional support beyond the GP and Specialist's office can help patients manage their conditions, adhere to treatments, and navigate the complexities of their healthcare journeys.

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According to our 2024 So What? Research Survey of Australian Doctors, HCPs believe that while patient support holds significant potential, the execution and communication around support, and in particular Patient Support Programs (PSPs), need improvement.

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In this article we look at:

• What doctors think of patient support
• What are the problems with PSPs
• What can be done better

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Insights from Doctors on Patient Support

In the 2024 So What? Research Survey of Australian Doctors, patient support emerged as a key driver of satisfaction with pharma and more ‘patient support’ appeared on doctors’ wish list for pharma this year as discussed in our March article What Doctors Want in 2024.

Doctors value patient education materials and support, such as patient literature and demo products. They request more patient handbooks, educational resources and ongoing support programs for patients.

Our findings suggest that while patient support is valued, there is room for improvement in terms of materials, support duration, and the ease of accessing these resources particularly in relation to PSPs.

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The Big Gap: PSP Enrolment

Despite the acknowledged value of patient support, there is a significant gap when it comes to enrolling patients in patient support programs. Our survey revealed that only 26% of GPs and 45% of specialists have patients enrolled in a PSP.

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As is often the case in healthcare research, there are significant differences across specialties.

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Nationwide responses vary also with Queensland reporting the highest PSP enrolment at 45%, followed by NSW/ACT at 36%, VIC/TAS at 34% and SA/WA/NT at 24%.

Interestingly, at 47%, HCPs with less than 10 years in practice were also more likely to have enrolled patients in PSPs compared to their more experienced colleagues at 32%.

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Barriers to Enrolment

Our findings indicate that there is a large proportion of patients missing out on beneficial support with 74% of GPs and 55% of specialists not having any patients enrolled in a PSP.

Barriers to greater patient enrolments vary:

• Lack of awareness: 44% of HCPs are either not aware of PSPs, or feel they do not know enough about them
• Complicated enrolment process: 34% of respondents cited that enrolling patients is too complicated and time-consuming
• Not available for therapy area: 22% mentioned that there are no PSPs available for the conditions they treat
• Not valuable to patients: 12% indicate they feel PSPs do not provide enough value to patients
• Insufficient information: 10% stated that there is not enough informational material available

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Who should enrol patients in PSPs?

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What can be done better

To improve PSP enrolment and the effectiveness of these programs, pharma companies should consider the following:

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• Enhance awareness and education about the availability and benefits of PSPs through targeted communication campaigns and regular updates
• Simplify the enrolment process to make it quick and easy for HCPs to enrol patients
• Expand PSP availability for a broader range of conditions to ensure more patients can benefit
• Provide comprehensive and accessible materials for both patients and HCPs
• Leverage technology to facilitate enrolment, provide resources, and offer ongoing support

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By addressing these areas, pharma companies can enhance the value of their PSPs, ensuring that more patients receive the support they need to manage their health effectively.

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Next Step

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Want to enhance your patient support programs and unlock a competitive advantage? Contact us today to discover how we can help you succeed!

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