Maximizing adherence for enhanced patient health-care and treatment outcomes

Navigating the complex landscape of patient adherence presents a significant challenge in achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes and improving patients' quality of life. Despite extensive efforts and countless studies, nonadherence remains a significant barrier, posing risks such as disease progression, hospitalization, and diminished well-being. Recognizing this pronounced gap, Axios International has been pioneering access to maximized adherence solutions designed to address the multifaceted barriers behind treatment discontinuation, empowering patients in their treatment journey.

Adherence, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), refers to the extent to which a person's behavior, including medication intake, dietary adherence, and lifestyle modifications, aligns with agreed recommendations from healthcare providers.

What exactly are the reasons for patients' nonadherence, and how has Axios, in collaboration with our partners, been making a positive impact on the patients we support? Let’s delve deep.

Nonadherence - a complex issue that impedes successful treatment outcomes

The five dimensions set by WHO as contributing factors to nonadherence- patient-related, social or economic, therapy-related, condition-related, and health system-related - vary from patient to patient. Every patient has a story that’s starkly different from their peers, and Axios has taken up this challenge to address the unique adherence needs of each patient and provide them with an effective solution.

Together with our partners, including multinational pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers/physicians (HCPs), pharmacists, patients, governments, charities/NGOs, and distributors/Insurance companies, we have been designing and implementing Patient Support Programs unique to every patient.

One of our recently published articles explains why failing to follow through and complete the treatment course because of financial concerns is a common yet high-risk issue. While patients may not choose to stop taking medication altogether, many may resort to buying only a portion of the essential or more affordable medications.

For optimal therapeutic efficacy, 80 percent or more adherence is typically required. It is important to note, however, that poor adherence to therapy is a significant public health problem. Only 50 percent of patients in developed countries adhere to treatment, while in developing countries, it’s even less.

?The healthcare system has traditionally relied on limited interventions to improve patient adherence. With access to Axios’ maximized adherence solutions, our program partners are constantly up-to-date with the evolving needs of the patients, receiving support in all our partnered patient support programs. This helps to understand each patient’s needs better and tailor patient support, improving the adherence rates in a progressively sustainable manner. We provide personalized support to patients enrolled in our programs who are on their treatment journey, often outside hospitals or healthcare facilities, empowering and enabling them to adhere to their treatment regimens continuously. Following a comprehensive 360-degree patient support approach, we are significantly improving adherence rates and, thereby, enhancing patients' health and quality of life.

Among our many success stories is Malaysia, where our partnered PSP was able to bridge the adherence gap for hundreds of patients. To address nonadherence among chronic disease patients in Malaysia, which accounts for 71% of deaths in the country, a multinational pharmaceutical company approached Axios to devise and implement a PSP. The program was specifically designed to treat chronic dermatological and rheumatic diseases with biologic medications.?

The Axios-managed PSP included affordability solutions along with treatment adherence strategies. Additionally, we empowered patients to take charge of their treatment, with nurses teaching them how to self-inject medication, explaining the importance of completing the full course of treatment, and reminding them when to take their next dose.

Over 75 physicians from 55 hospitals and clinics have referred patients to the program, resulting in hundreds of patients restarting their treatment.

Overcoming cost-related nonadherence with Axios-partnered PSPs

There are cases when patients, even if they can afford medication costs, find it hard to manage cash flows, especially concerning long-term treatment plans for chronic conditions. This Cost-Related Non-adherence (CRN) occurs when patients decide to allocate their treatment funds for other purposes, such as dealing with rising living costs and paying for their child’s education, etc., resulting in incomplete treatment courses, compromised health outcomes, and increased risk of complications over time for themselves.

?Boribun (name changed), 49, from Thailand, had a picture-perfect life until he was diagnosed with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in 2016. He had a successful business, a happy family, and the means to provide for them. Boribun, who had never had money worries prior to his diagnosis, had to make a difficult decision when he learned the amount he would have to allocate for his treatment. He decided to prioritize his family's needs over his own and discontinued his treatment.

“I needed to keep my savings for my children’s education and family. I could not be selfish and focus on myself; I was the head of the family, and I had responsibilities,” recounts Boribun. But soon after, his physician introduced him to an Axios-managed PSP, and he was supported with access to Maximized Adherence solutions. Under the program, he not only received medication but also emotional and psychological support to continue his treatment.

?“I felt the weight of the world lifting off my shoulders. Finally, I found a friend in the program. My Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) level decreased, along with my financial struggles. Today, I can drive and exercise. I would like to thank all the program partners for supporting me when I most needed it,” he says.

CRN includes not following prescriptions, skipping doses, delaying medication fillings, and reducing dosages. The proactive, efficient, and continuous addressing of these needs is essential to overcome the numerous adherence barriers that hinder patients from accessing essential care.

Axios’ scientific and holistic approach to addressing nonadherence

Our access experts, patient care leads, and liaisons realized early on the importance of taking a holistic approach to maximizing adherence by acknowledging the complexity of everyone's situation. A comprehensive understanding of the individual and their circumstances is required to achieve effective treatment compliance. With our aim to promote patient-centric care and a personalized support model, we developed our personalized patient support plan that helps individuals successfully overcome their adherence to treatment barriers.

As part of the traditional healthcare system, patients are warned of the potential consequences of nonadherence, and standardized follow-ups are scheduled for all patients. However, this one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t cater to each patient’s unique circumstances and diverse needs. In order to meet the individual needs of each patient, we at Axios utilize our proprietary Patient Needs Assessment Tool (PNAT) to conduct an in-depth assessment of each eligible enrolled patient in the programs we manage. Using this tool, each eligible patient receives a customized treatment journey plan based on their needs. With this, the patients can receive comprehensive support from a multidisciplinary team, enhancing their adherence to treatment and therapy and ultimately improving their quality of life.

Focused on the five dimensions of adherence set by WHO, PNAT conducts personalized eligibility assessments and identifies the challenges patients face in achieving the best possible treatment outcomes by using real-world insights and assessment studies to understand and file individual risk factors and issues that cause poor adherence or discontinuation of treatment. A personalized treatment and adherence plan is then developed to suit and support every patient’s treatment journey, resulting in maximized medical benefits.

Offering support and courage through personalized patient support programs

The patient's journey outside hospitals relies heavily on their ability to independently manage their condition until their next physician visit. This underscores the importance of adherence services and external support. Our partnered programs and access solutions are designed to play a vital role in enhancing treatment outcomes and the quality of life of all the patients receiving care and treatment in the programs we manage while mitigating health risks associated with non-adherence.?

Providing 360-degree patient support involves an array of support services that help them stay on top of their treatment. Through personalized support plans, we prioritize education and awareness, covering topics including medication and disease education, caregiver education, nutritional tips, physical activity tips, and non-pharmacological Adverse Event (AE) awareness and management.

Our patient support extends beyond education to enhance the quality of life with offerings like nutritional sessions, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, smoking cessation support, and yoga sessions. Axios CareLine hub provides ongoing support through dose monitoring, smart SMS reminders, adverse event reporting, and follow-up. Patient gathering services foster community and support through forums, patient ambassadors, support groups, and peer-to-peer meetings.?

We also prioritize psychological and emotional well-being with sessions such as psychological support, mindfulness training, meditation, humor, and general emotional support.

Moreover, we are going one step further with Axios+, the first and only suite of digital solutions to improve patient access and treatment adherence for Axios-managed patient support programs. The MyHealth mobile app makes it simple for patients to track and manage their treatment journey.

Empowering patients through personalized adherence solutions

As a pioneering healthcare access company, Axios International recognizes the vital roles of analytics, personalized patient adherence interventions, and dynamic operational frameworks in crafting tailored solutions to address individual patient needs. By comprehending the myriad reasons behind nonadherence, Axios and its partners are tackling barriers, including affordability concerns and lack of awareness, empowering patients to adhere to their treatment plans.

Our primary objective is to support patients to participate actively in their healthcare journey, leading to successful treatment outcomes and an enhanced quality of life. With a commitment to patient-centric care and continuous innovation, we drive positive change in healthcare delivery, ensuring that patients worldwide receive the help they deserve. With numerous success stories to our credit, we are confident in achieving our goals.