Released this July, the UK Government’s Women’s Health Strategy aimed to address a very complex problem – gender inequality across the healthcare sector. Whilst the strategy attracted some justified criticism, it was broadly well received as a ten-year plan prepared to tackle a very serious problem.
Although the potential solution raised in the report – governmental action over the next decade – holds potential, the problem is very stark and will require more intervention. The report reveals that 51% of people face barriers in getting the care they need, and that 84% of women feel that they are not properly listened to in healthcare settings.
Even outside of the report’s remit, which focuses on wellbeing in the workplace, menstrual conditions and fertility, amongst others, there are other areas in which women are still excluded from the healthcare process – including through clinical research. According to the BMJ, even in trials for conditions that predominantly impact women, they are underrepresented. Problems like this need more than government solutions – and this is where pharmaceutical companies can play a role.
Technology as an equaliser
Increasingly, technology is proving to be the tool to solve these problems. In clinical studies, women are disproportionately affected by social factors like childcare or work commitments. To repeatedly visit a trial site whilst balancing childcare and work commitments is incredibly difficult, and as a result women have higher trial drop-out rates. This kicks off a chain of consequences – with less representation, women are at a greater risk of side effects than men, and the efficacy of the eventual product is also compromised for a large segment of potential consumers. What can pharma do to address the issue?
As pharma companies continue to embrace decentralised trials – trials that don’t rely on fixed sites – virtual engagement platforms are unlocking access for underrepresented groups. Asynchronous discussion technology naturally eliminates traditional barriers to full trial participation, including childcare, work commitments, language barriers, transportation issues, and even privacy concerns.
This aspect of technology may dramatically change the ability for many women to participate in clinical studies. But if those barriers are removed, how do trial sponsors get the best out of those who are participating, and how can they ensure trial conditions suit them?
AI-led engagement
In a face-to-face setting, the loudest and most experienced voices may dominate conversations. In particular, traditional trial design can fail women right from the beginning, starting with a lack of women investigators. The asynchronous engagement technology discussed above helps ensure that these voices are not overlooked – private questions and hidden identities mean everyone feels more comfortable speaking up, and the ability to participate at each person’s ideal time gives everyone an equal chance to contribute. But other advanced technologies can also play a role in ensuring an equal share of voice.
Trial sponsors often engage with key opinion leaders during protocol design. It’s at this stage that insights about how potential treatments may impact different patient groups are especially important to obtain. If concerns about how a treatment will affect women, for example, aren’t raised – or aren’t heard – that information won’t be considered.
Natural language processing – a component of artificial intelligence – is the ability of a computer programme to understand human language as it is spoken and written. Natural language applications for pharmaceutical teams can include the ability to analyse expert conversations to determine trending concepts, sentiment, and important threads that could be lost when left to subjective human interpretation or memory. This analysis could lead to a more thorough understanding of considerations for protocol design and other aspects of a successful clinical study.
The action plan set out by the Women’s Health Strategy is clear: women lack representation in all aspects of the healthcare sector, from roles as investigators and key opinion leaders to clinical trial access and participation. And although the report puts impetus for change on the Government, the work doesn’t end there. Pharmaceutical companies can take action now to explore technological solutions and reduce the barriers women encounter in pursuit of better health.
By Annika Voss, Senior Director, Client Success at Within3
