Case Study

aSAH Patients

Understanding the Patient Journey of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (aSAH) Patients

Details

Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (aSAH)

3 patients and 3 caregivers

Web-assisted telephone interview (WATI), 60 minutes duration, followed by digital ethnography

France

Pharmaceutical

Business Objective

The primary goal of this project was to explore and understand the key milestones and patient journeys of aSAH patients and their caregivers. The pharmaceutical client sought to gain insights into the initial symptoms and experiences of these patients, the different treatments and phases they undergo, and the broader impact of aSAH on their lives and those of their caregivers.

Client's Problem

The client aimed to address a significant gap in understanding the patient journey for aSAH, a rare type of stroke not treated in the same way as ischemic stroke. Given the exploratory nature of the study, the client wanted to delve into:

  • Early symptoms and experiences of patients
  • The different treatment phases
  • The impact of aSAH on the cognitive and physical abilities of patients
  • The effects on patients’ lives and their caregivers

Challenges

Recruitment posed a significant challenge due to the rarity of aSAH, with an incidence rate of 6-10 cases per 100,000 people per year. The small quota further complicated the recruitment process, requiring precise matching of patient profiles to the client’s expectations.

The Med Planet Solution

  1. Innovative Recruitment Strategies
    To overcome recruitment challenges, we utiliSed social networks and patient associations. This approach enabled us to meet the recruitment target despite the rarity of the condition.
  2. Ensuring Diversity
    We provided a mix of patients with different levels of cognitive and physical abilities and recovery stages, ensuring comprehensive insights for the client.
  3. Efficient Collaboration
    We worked closely with the client to conduct secure interviews using their web platform. Our team ensured quick turnaround times for analysis and demonstrated flexibility and responsiveness during the ethnographic portion of the study.

Client Impact

The client’s feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The study met all requirements set by the final client, known for their high expectations and demanding nature. Specific feedback included:

“Just a quick note to say Thank you for yesterday. I hope you felt it went well. The client and the entire team were really happy. It has been a tough project, and the end client has had some really high expectations so we are really pleased!”