For more than 30 years I’ve specialised in healthcare market research, running studies that involve patients across therapeutic areas. I’ve always been an empathetic researcher, looking for solutions that support both patients and manufacturers. Then, in 2024, I became a patient: I was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm and underwent complex surgery — three stents and 18 coils. The operation triggered inflammation, and I had to relearn how to walk, talk and swallow.
Two years on, I’ve recovered well. That lived experience has sharpened my thinking about patient research. Here’s what I’ve taken away.
- The patient is central
Patients drive their own outcomes. Positivity, motivation and engagement matter — and we don’t invest enough in tools that foster those qualities. Medicines and devices help, but so do interventions that keep patients mentally and practically engaged in their care. - Broaden who you talk to
We often start with prescribers and then add patients. That’s too narrow. Nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, psychologists and others shape recovery day to day. My interventionalist’s skill was vital, but so were the therapists and nurses who supported my rehabilitation. Include them in research. - Work within real-world constraints
Everyone working in the public sector is operating within financial limits and strict protocols. They’re doing their best with what they have. Understanding those constraints — and designing solutions that work within them — is essential. - Public and private must complement each other
The public sector can’t always provide every service a patient needs. Private provision often fills important gaps. Map where public care ends and private support begins, and design pathways that join up seamlessly.
What this means for patient research
- Put the patient at the centre, focusing on outcomes and on tools that boost patient motivation as well as clinical efficacy.
- Expand research beyond prescribers and patients to include allied health professionals.
- Understand and work with public protocols and resource constraints.
Do these three things and patient research will better reflect reality — and genuinely drive improved outcomes.
