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Perceptions of Healthcare and Medicine

How would you rate the state of healthcare in the [United States/United Kingdom] today?

Thinking about whether the quality of healthcare will be significantly improved ten years from now, would you say you are pessimistic or optimistic?

Patients US: Overall, in your opinion, how would you rate the prescription medications currently available to people in the United States in terms of the following?

Patients UK: Overall, in your opinion, how would you rate the prescription medications currently available to people in the United Kingdom in terms of the following?

Thinking about the value of prescription medications for you, which of the following would you say is MOST IMPORTANT:

Patients US: Now we’d like you to think about the medications you take. How would you rate the medications you take in terms of:

Patients UK: Now we’d like you to think about the medications you take. How would you rate the medications you take in terms of:

Patients US: Please rate how well you think each of the following groups does in looking out for patients by making sure the prescription medications we have in the United States are safe and effective. If you aren’t sure, just say so.

Patients UK: Please rate how well you think each of the following groups does in looking out for patients by making sure the prescription medications we have in the United Kingdom are safe and effective. If you aren’t sure, just say so.

Patients US: Please tell me how well each of the following groups does in making sure new drugs are available to the public as quickly as possible.

Patients UK: Please tell me how well each of the following groups does in making sure new drugs are available to the public as quickly as possible.

Thinking of how much people like you influence what new prescription medications are available, would you say people like you are:

Patients US: Do you agree or disagree that:

Patients UK: Do you agree or disagree that:

Currently the process to get a new drug to the public takes about 12 years. This time includes clinical trials, and the government review of the drug’s benefits and risks. Which best describes how you feel about the process?

(IF TOO SLOW OR TOO FAST): Who do you think is to blame?

Perceptions of Risk

Sometimes drugs or medical devices are approved for use in other medically advanced countries, but not in the [United States/United Kingdom]. Do you think patients in the [United States/United Kingdom] should have access to medications that have been approved in other medically advanced countries, or not?

Why do you say that?

Thinking about the prescription medications that you have taken, would you say you have felt:

Patients US: Do you feel you have been adequately informed about the medication in terms of:

Patients UK: Do you feel you have been adequately informed about the medication in terms of:

Patients US: For each source I read, please tell me how credible you think each source is in terms of accurately describing the benefits and potential risks and downsides of the prescription drugs?

Patients UK: For each source I read, please tell me how credible you think each source is in terms of accurately describing the benefits and potential risks and downsides of the prescription drugs?

When your doctor tells you that you need a new prescription medication, do you usually look for more information before taking it, or is the information provided by your doctor enough?

Patients US: Have you ever:

Patients UK: Have you ever:

Patients US: How much of a risk do you think that was to your safety or to how well you could control your condition?

Patients UK: How much of a risk do you think that was to your safety or to how well you could control your condition?

Audio Introduction

Dr. John Hall
Vice President of Global Medical Affairs, Quintiles

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Takeaways

Patients are emerging as an increasingly powerful voice in the conversations surrounding healthcare delivery and clinical research. As such, biopharmaceutical companies and paying organizations will increasingly need to realize the decision-making power of patients, take the time to understand patient needs, and communicate to patients both the value and risks of new pharmacologic treatments.

Three-quarters of U.S. patients consider their health good to excellent, but only about half of U.K. patients offered a similar assessment.
Seventy-two percent of U.S. patients and 81 percent of U.K. patients believe they should be able to choose to take potentially risky medication, even if it is not approved for use, if they feel it is their only chance to improve their health.
More than nine-out-of-10 U.S. and U.K. patients feel adequately informed about the benefits of taking their medication, but both groups are less certain of the potential risks.
Among all groups surveyed, patients are the least hopeful about the future of healthcare, with only 49 percent of U.S. patients and 38 percent of U.K. patients expressing optimism that the quality of healthcare will be improved 10 years from now.

Data for this survey were collected from 509 U.S. and 500 U.K. adults ages 18 and over diagnosed with a chronic health condition.