From the patient’s perspective; Narcolepsy December 11, 2018 Narcolepsy is a rare neurological condition that causes a person to suddenly fall asleep at inappropriate times. It means the brain is unable to regulate sleeping and waking patterns normally, resulting in excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep attacks where sufferers fall asleep suddenly and without warning, cataplexy (a temporary loss of muscle control resulting in weakness and possible collapse), sleep paralysis, and excessive dreaming and waking in the night. Although narcolepsy doesn’t cause serious or long-term physical health problems, it can have a significant impact on daily life and be difficult to cope with emotionally. In this blog, we interview a patient who took part in a narcolepsy study, in order to humanise our patient journey research. written by GKA Read more
Who’s who in Alzheimer’s? A medical fieldwork guide December 7, 2018 Alzheimer’s is a physical disease that affects the brain and is the most common type of dementia in the UK. Over time, the disease causes proteins to build up in the brain and form structures called’plaques’ and’tangles’. These proteins lead to the loss of connections between nerve cells, eventually resulting in the death of the cells and loss of brain tissue. Additionally, Alzheimer’s sufferers also have a shortage of vital chemicals which help to transmit signals around the brain, meaning that the signals aren’t transmitted effectively. written by GKA Read more
Your guide to conducting medical market research in London November 14, 2018 There’s a lot to think about when conducting a medical market research project in a big city such as London. You might think that it is super easy to recruit in such a large city, but once you take into account the ever-increasing amount of qualifying criteria, it can actually become tricky whatever your chosen location. From the type of venue you choose to how many people you recruit, which specialist centres and hospitals you recruit from to any events occurring in the city that could impact your research on the day, there are lots of different things for medical market research companies to consider. Don’t worry though – with more than 25 years of experience, we’ve successfully conducted loads of healthcare market research projects in big cities and have gathered all of our top tips together right here so you can ensure your next medical market research project goes off without a hitch. written by GKA Read more
Five easy-to-follow rules for reaching HCPs via email November 13, 2018 There’s no doubt about it: when it comes to communicating with healthcare professionals during healthcare fieldwork recruitment, email is one of the best ways to keep in touch. It’s fast, it’s easy, and it’s a fantastic way to build a rapport with your HCP respondents throughout the recruitment process. However, there are some things you need to consider when contacting HCPs this way, from complying with the relevant rules and regulations to making sure your message stands out and doesn’t get lost among the hundreds of other emails they receive each day. In this blog, we’ve put together our top tips for communicating with HCPs via email during the healthcare fieldwork recruitment process to make sure your respondents remain engaged and that your project is a success. written by GKA Read more
Who’s who in NASH? A medical fieldwork guide November 8, 2018 NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) is a stage of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD patients often require a range of healthcare professionals to help them get the diagnosis and treatment they need to reduce the long-term effects of this disease. NAFLD is a term used to describe a range of conditions caused by a buildup of fat in the liver. It is not caused by heavy alcohol consumption and it can affect anyone of any age. However, people are at greater risk of NAFLD if they smoke and are over the age of 50. written by GKA Read more
Is technology the saviour of healthcare? October 17, 2018 The healthcare industry is always evolving – and thanks to the exponential rise of technology, new topics and trends are constantly emerging. Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, neuroscience: no, you’ve not accidentally stumbled into a sci-fi movie: these are all very real up and coming technologies that are set to have a direct impact on the healthcare industry over the next few years. written by GKA Read more