The healthcare sector is on the cusp of an AI revolution, with tools like ChatGPT set to transform medical practice. From easing administrative burdens to aiding in complex diagnoses, AI’s integration could allow physicians more time for direct patient care. MD Analytics surveyed 300 physicians to gauge their outlook on AI’s future role.
In a recent study, MD Analytics surveyed 300 physicians to gauge their awareness and use of AI, especially in light of the ChatGPT platform. The findings highlight a significant gap in AI understanding among healthcare professionals, with less than half familiar with the concept. Usage of AI, particularly language models like ChatGPT, remains low due to lack of familiarity and trust. Concerns include patient self-diagnosis based on AI-generated information and the resulting challenges for physicians. Bridging this knowledge gap is crucial to maximize AI’s potential in healthcare.
Physician specialists are not all alike!
MD Analytics surveyed 100 Canadian physician specialists on topics such as work-life balance, patient care, pharma companies, technology, and information sources to identify attitudinal differences to help pharma marketers more effectively communicate with their target audience.
Four segments emerged.
Key insights have emerged in a new study conducted by MD Analytics in terms of differences in how younger and older Canadian physician specialists perceive aspects of patient care.
Building on previous findings that showcased generational differences among primary care physicians, MD Analytics conducted a follow up study in March of 2023 that included a mix of 100 Canadian physician specialists. The overall objective of this study was to determine the extent to which a generational gap may exist in approaches to treatment and patient management. In our analysis, we divided specialists into two groups: younger physicians, those under 45, and older physicians, those 45 and older.
Key insights have emerged in a new study conducted by MD Analytics regarding perceived work life imbalances among younger and older Canadian physician specialists.
As a prelude to the latest data, we reflect on previous research we conducted with physicians in October of 2022 which showed that the majority of specialists in Canada felt overwhelmed and burned out compared to pre-pandemic times. While this is true across medical specialties, the data also hinted that this feeling may be more pronounced based on age.
The COVID-19 pandemic has undeniably impacted our healthcare system in many ways. One of the most significant impacts has been staffing shortages among Canadian healthcare workers.
Since the start of the pandemic there has been a substantial rise in shortages of healthcare workers across Canada. To what extent does this shortage affect physicians and their practice? How severe has the staffing shortage been in the past year? What type of support do physicians seek in order to reduce the workloads in their practice? To answer these questions MD Analytics surveyed 50 family medicine physicians and 90 specialists on the topic of healthcare staffing shortages across Canada, post pandemic.
For most of the general population, the pandemic is starting to feel like it’s a thing of the past. However, while most of us have found a sense of normalcy within our lives, the healthcare system is still reeling from its effects thereby impacting healthcare workers within it. What is the impact on Canadian physicians? What are the current consequences of the pandemic on their personal and professional lives? More specifically, how does this all impact the management of their workload? MD Analytics surveyed 50 family medicine physicians and 90 specialists on the topic of their professional and mental state 3 years after the onset of the pandemic.
We are sometimes reminded with stories, movies and books that companies have an origin too. It must have started somehow. Someone must have had a vision or an idea and then worked hard to get it going.
MD Analytics is no different in this way and its story follows its own certain path with many team members supporting the company’s growth and quality deliverables throughout the years. At the forefront is the CEO, Tyler Hassman, a fourth generation Canadian, born in Saskatchewan who migrated to British Columbia in the late 90’s; where he held several sales positions during the “dot com” days and met other ambitious soon-to-be entrepreneurs along the way. Working long hours tirelessly and then meeting with friends after work to talk about business was the way he spent most of his days. Day after day, year after year working and evolving along with the business.
Since its initial onset, COVID-19 has had a significant impact on how physicians interact with pharmaceutical companies. Government restrictions forced companies to quickly adapt and move to more remote forms of interactions. While in-person interactions are once again a viable option for communication, will they return to pre-pandemic levels? MD Analytics has been monitoring these trends over the past few years and we have recently interviewed 50 Canadian GPs and 90 Canadian specialists in our latest survey on the topic.
With COVID-19 about to enter its 3rd year, it continues to significantly impact the lives of Canadians and the practices of HCPs in the country. Even though it has not been easy, physicians have continuously adapted how they manage their patients and how they interact with key healthcare stakeholders during the pandemic. MD Analytics has been monitoring these trends over the past few years and we have recently interviewed 140 physicians in our latest survey on the topic.
Market research plays a fundamental role in helping those involved in the healthcare market answer key questions about their brands. Gaining insights from healthcare practitioners is central to market research. However, engaging physicians to participate in research can be a challenge. While most of the surveyed physicians say they enjoy participating in market research studies, in practice, physicians self-report participating in less than half of the number of studies they are invited to participate in. Real-world experience from our panel says the response rate is even lower. With this in mind, we asked Canadian physicians to help us understand what motivates them to do market research.
Engaging prescribers is a key component to the launch of any new brand. But what are the key components that drive interest for physicians in learning more?
Overall, physicians express greater satisfaction when learning about new products through in person interactions compared to virtual or digital interactions. However, regardless of how they learn about new product, the types of resources physicians prefer are similar. The top most preferred resources for both GPs and Specialists include presentation at conferences, discussions with peers, educational events that include KOLs or treatment areas experts, presentations by lead authors, journal clubs and discussions with Pharmaceutical reps. While a majority agree (66%) they are more likely to engage with reps or MSLs to discuss new products or indications, more physicians agree (87%) they are more likely to meet with a rep or MSL with whom they have an established relationship.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on physicians, including how they learn about and integrate new products into their practice. While not all saw a decline, close to 1 in 3 Specialists and close to half of GPs say their use of newly launched products declined during the pandemic, primarily due to a lack of pharma presence, reduced patient volumes overall and just a general lack of comfort using new products.
Physicians feel positive about how Patient Support Programs (PSPs) have evolved in the past two years – especially in terms of responsiveness and the expertise of individuals working on PSPs. The main unmet needs at this time remain the range of service hours and the availabilityof nurses remotely (either by phone or virtually). Many specialists believe that biosimilar PSP providers have struggled more than originator drug PSPs since the onset of the pandemic – mainly because of they do not have as many employees and offer a smaller range of services.
Patient Support Programs (PSPs) play a significant role in ensuring that patients have the best possible experience during their journey – especially in specialty therapeutic areas where treatments tend to be more expensive. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it more challenging for patients to access support and services for their medical conditions. This has put additional pressure on company-sponsored PSPs to further enhance their offerings to help patients in the best way possible. PSPs have become increasingly important for patients since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and as a result now have an even more significant influence on physicians’ treatment selection process.
While the vaccination campaign in Canada has shown positive progress, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to significantly impact the way in which HCPs interact with both patients and pharma. MD Analytics has been monitoring these trends over the past year and we are excited to share with you our 4th wave infographic on this topic.
For the first time since initiating this tracking study, patient volumes have returned back to pre-pandemic conditions, as have key measures such are diagnostic tests performed and treatment switches. It is important to note that while most physicians feel that their workloads are now similar to pre-COVID conditions, many expect to exceed their current levels in the coming months.
The COVID-19 crisis changed the way people work across industries including the pharma industry. MD Analytics teamed up with the professional association for women in the pharma industry Women Leaders in Pharma to conduct a study on the impact on of COVID-19 on women who work in the pharma industry.
The COVID-19 vaccination campaign is underway in Canada. However, the pandemic has significantly altered HCPs’ practices to date. These changes have impacted workloads, patient assessments, and interactions with pharma. A year into the pandemic, a national COVID-19 vaccination campaign is underway. This begs the question, how are Canadian HCPs doing today? What do they foresee moving forward? Our latest short survey presents the current state of HCPs’ practices in Canada and their assessment of the government’s management of COVID-19.