/EINPresswire.com/ -- RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC--(Marketwired - May 16, 2017) - Investments in digital patient adherence strategies have increased from an average of 21% in 2015 to an anticipated average 33% in 2017, according to a new study.

The data in Patient Adherence Program Planning: Drive Compliance to Improve Treatment Outcomes, published by pharmaceutical business intelligence firm Cutting Edge Information, show that surveyed patient adherence teams typically dedicate the largest percentage of their activities budget to digital channels. Digital adherence channels include educational and patient support sites, live chats with healthcare professionals, and email communications to patients.

Mobile initiatives receive the second largest increase in budget allocations, according to the study. From 2015 to 2017, surveyed groups anticipate an increase of 4% in average budget allocated to mobile adherence channels -- including text messaging and mobile health applications. As such, data from the study show a steady decrease in the percentage of brand budget allocated to print channels. Print-based initiatives are expected to decrease throughout this year, from an average of 14% in 2015 to an average of 11% in 2017.

"Because the global population is gaining access to online media every day, digital channels are key in engaging with healthcare consumers," said Adam Bianchi, senior director of research at Cutting Edge Information. "Although pharmaceutical teams still incorporate traditional print adherence activities, such as educational brochures and direct mail campaigns, teams are continuously moving towards online and mobile technology."

Digital patient adherence activities span a number of initiative types, and are not limited to standard product information websites. Patient adherence groups may also support peer support websites or online forums for patients, social media pages for products, and patient groups and live chat with healthcare professionals. Digital channels also include email messaging campaigns -- both those that focus on refill or dosing reminder messages, as well as those focused on other messages. Finally, companies may also support gamification initiatives to encourage patient compliance and other innovative digital activities.

Patient Adherence Program Planning: Drive Compliance to Improve Treatment Outcomes, available at https://www.cuttingedgeinfo.com/product/patient-adherence-program-planning/, examines how pharmaceutical, biotechnology and other life science companies develop and support patient adherence topics. The report includes detailed benchmarking metrics and case studies of winning initiatives, including budgets, timing, outsourcing and vendor selection, as well as program channels -- including digital and mobile resources -- for new patient adherence initiatives.

The report is a decision support tool for life science companies seeking to implement or improve their approaches to patient adherence. The report is designed to help executives:

• Develop a winning combination of patient adherence activities across a range of media.
• Take advantage of new patient adherence technologies and strategies, such as gamification.
• Benchmark budget and staffing resources for patient adherence initiatives.
• Discover industry trends and insights into new approaches for patient adherence programs.

For more information about Cutting Edge Information's patient adherence research and to obtain a copy of Patient Adherence Program Planning: Drive Compliance to Improve Treatment Outcomes, please visit https://www.cuttingedgeinfo.com.

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