25 August 2020

A virtual welcome for our new colleagues

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Oxford PharmaGenesis has been in the fortunate position of being able to continue to recruit HealthScience experts for a variety of roles across our global locations.

We asked a few of our new colleagues to share their experiences of joining us remotely.

Continue reading

6 August 2020

Oxford PharmaGenesis colleagues volunteer their time to collate COVID-19 research for Evidence Aid

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our colleagues have volunteered their time in many different and inspiring ways. Read more about the experiences of two of our colleagues.

Continue reading

3 July 2020

Oxford PharmaGenesis at the first virtual Communiqué Awards

This year saw the first virtual edition of the Communiqué Awards, with Oxford PharmaGenesis strongly represented among a multitude of faces online, celebrating excellence in international healthcare communications. While the COVID-19 pandemic precluded the razzmatazz of the usual black-tie dinner and awards ceremony in London, the virtual event nevertheless continued the Communiqué mission to recognize work that has delivered real improvements in healthcare and patient experience, built trust among wider stakeholders and augmented the reputation of our industry over the past year.

Continue reading

19 June 2020

How do you do that? An interactive panel discussion on hot topics in medical communications

Hot topics

Champion sponsor of the Annual Meeting

Reported by Devorah Weinstock

Speakers

  • Alley Sullivan, Senior Account Director, The Lockwood Group
  • Alyssa Bowling, Senior Manager, Scientific Communications, Sunovion
  • Dee Bojanic, Global Publications Lead, Gilead
  • Samantha Koth, Director, Medical Affairs, Sunovion
  • Marissa Nolan, VP, Group Scientific Director, The Lockwood Group

The hot topics were chosen by an ISMPP member-driven survey and, not surprisingly, the topics chosen for discussion were all related to the impact of COVID-19 on medical publications.

Owing to the pandemic, medical conferences are now virtual and scientific posters are presented online, instead of traditional printed posters. Publication professionals were curious to know what best practice is now for digital posters. Should online posters be kept to traditional style or switched to more interactive and streamlined formats?

A significant advantage with streamlined posters is that complex data can be more easily digested by physicians and other viewers. However, some authors and internal pharmaceutical

stakeholders perceive streamlined posters as lacking adequate scientific rigor. What can be done to get all stakeholders on board with creating streamlined posters?

One solution is to add QR codes and links to more study data. Another suggested solution was the use of traditional posters for first-time presentations of primary study data and then streamlined posters for encores. Additionally, a hybrid approach between traditional and streamlined poster formats can be used.

The world of medical conferences has pivoted towards virtual conferences and increased use of streamlined poster presentations, and this is likely to remain even once the COVID-19 restrictions have passed, meaning that these lessons have enduring significance.

19 June 2020

Virtual 16th Annual Meeting of ISMPP: overnight report

Continue reading

18 June 2020

Advancing health literacy in clinical research: clear communications for every participant

Clinical research

Champion sponsor of the Annual Meeting

Reported by Devorah Weinstock

Speaker

  • Sylvia Baedorf Kassis, Program Manager, Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard

In clinical research, it is important to convey health information effectively to healthcare providers; however, it is equally important to communicate health information clearly to patients.

“Nine of 10 people in the USA need extra help in understanding health information.”

Sylvia Baedorf Kassis

Research has shown that 9 of 10 people in the USA need extra help in understanding health information; these statistics are similar in other locations around the world.

Integrating health literacy principles during clinical trial life cycles can be of great benefit. Techniques include using plain language, considering the cultural backgrounds of patients, applying interactive techniques to learn and to understand patients’ literacy abilities, assessing literacy usability, and tailoring numbers such as statistics, risks and probabilities to patients’ understanding.

Apply these principles and watch the benefits unfold! There can be a greater awareness of research and increased participation in research studies. There will probably be improved adherence to study procedures. Patients will likely exhibit higher levels of satisfaction with the research experience, in addition to recommending study participation to others. This can also be a strategy to reduce participant attrition.

Finally, patients active in their care tend to have better health outcomes. Recognizing patients as experts and facilitating improved healthcare communication can foster collaboration and provide benefits to all involved.

1 2 3 4 … 30