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PharmaCentra Partners With Rollins School of Public Health and the School of Medicine at Emory University to Increase Glaucoma Treatment Compliance

Posted on: Monday, 1 October 2007, 09:00 CDT

PharmaCentra, an Atlanta-based marketing and services firm that provides customizable healthcare management programs for the pharmaceutical industry, the Rollins School of Public Health, and the Department of Ophthalmology at the School of Medicine at Emory University will conduct a study of new technology to increase patient adherence to prescribed treatment regimens. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Eye Institute, will evaluate the effectiveness of the WellTouch™ system, which will provide glaucoma patients with individually tailored and interactive telephone messages to increase treatment compliance. Individually tailored print materials will also be sent to patients. Two hundred and fifty glaucoma patients from two eye clinics in metropolitan Atlanta will participate in the study, beginning in 2008.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for PharmaCentra to work with a world-class academic institution," said Dan Berman, chairman and CEO of PharmaCentra. "The problem of pharmaceutical non-compliance is significant and well known throughout the healthcare industry. We are eager to demonstrate that WellTouch™ can help overcome this challenge."

Nearly 30 percent of all patients stop taking prescribed medication within the first few months of treatment. Glaucoma patients who stop treatment are at a high risk of going blind. Reasons for noncompliance can range from forgetfulness to difficulty administering eye drops.

"Our goal is to identify the causes of patients' noncompliance with glaucoma treatment and then to provide an individually tailored, low cost and effective intervention to improve compliance," said Dr. Karen Glanz, principal investigator on the project and professor at the Rollins School of Public Health.

Using WellTouch™, patients will receive information that is specifically relevant to their glaucoma status along with tips and strategies that will aid in treatment compliance. In turn, study investigators will be able to track patient progress and monitor their level of compliance. Study participants will be interviewed every six months over an 18-month time period to gather data that will help determine treatment compliance related to prescription refills, appointment keeping, and medication taking. Additionally, a cost analysis of the study will be conducted.

"We expect this study will pave the way for improved management of other high-risk disease states," said Berman.

About PharmaCentra

PharmaCentra, located in Atlanta, offers customizable programs that help pharmaceutical companies provide comprehensive support to the physicians and patients who depend on their brands. From compliance and persistency to strategic sales and marketing, PharmaCentra's programs and services represent the future of healthcare management, offering clients integrated initiatives that allow them to effectively manage the flow of information between themselves, physicians and patients while increasing market share. For more information, visit www.pharmacentra.com.

Source: Business Wire

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