Healthcare Market Research in Europe

Healthcare Market Research provides vital information on Patient Needs and Decision Maker Insights.  Europe is a leading healthcare market, with a large population, prominent healthcare companies and cutting edge technologies.

Qualitative and Quantitative Market Research can provided data, insights and recommendations.  Online studies present many advantages for researchers and clients. They tend to be more affordable than other methodologies, and other efficiencies can emerge in terms of set up & analysis as well as in respondents conducting surveys at their convenience. Online surveys can be more flexible and customized to each participant as they proceed through it.

One of the most important advantages from a patient’s perspective in online medical surveys is the benefits this methodology provides when surveying about sensitive issues. The methodology tends to encourage candor and openness.

Multi-country Healthcare Case Study

SIS International Research conducted an online study on behalf of one of our clients, who was working closely with a global pharmaceutical corporation. The main focus of this study was on patients from 6 different countries spread across North America and Western/Northern Europe, all diagnosed with opioid induced constipation due to chronic pain management. The overall sample for all countries added up to 500 patients, which was achieved after a 20-minute online survey.

SIS programmed and hosted the survey, translated overlays in four languages for the purpose of this project, and worked on cross tabulations and analysis.

After confirming the design of the questionnaire together with the client, the study was finally launched, and successfully completed within 3 weeks of fieldwork activities and one full week of data analysis and presentation.

Project managers from two different SIS offices covering multiple time zones around the globe worked together closely with the client on this study, and ensured that the flow of information to and from the client was never interrupted in order to provide constant fieldwork updates and answers to our client’s queries almost instantly.

The fieldwork process included some nuances. The study took place in all countries simultaneously, so accuracy and efficient coordination were key considerations. In addition, it was important to adapt and localize the list of medications in to each of the 6 countries, and ensuring that questions and selections were relevant in each market. For instance, medications can hold different names in different countries or can only be present in certain countries. Therefore a robust secondary research effort can be crucial in contextualizing and analyzing feedback and data.

Some of the key findings we gathered from this study included:

A higher response rate was achieved among females (55%), and over half of the respondents were 45+ (55%).
The countries with the higher response rates were Canada, the USA and the UK.
The majority of the respondents (44%) had on-going (chronic) pain that was not related to cancer for the past 1-5 years.
More than half of the respondents (60%) suffered from pain levels going from 7 to 10 (1 being weak and 10 being the worst pain they could imagine).

Overall, this study was a success and provided insight for meaningful change and development. Moreover, at SIS, our dedicated teams in 9 locations spread in 4 continents offer clients access to knowledge from developed to emerging markets. Our extensive global network, further extends our geographic reach providing both local insights and global perspectives.

Even though they share personal details through their responses, respondents do not have to face a moderator or speak on the phone when answering questions, which has an impact on the level of honesty in their responses.

Online surveys also have drawbacks, compared to traditional qualitative methods for instance. There are no trained interviewers to probe respondents and gather additional data, and some countries do not have the same internet/mobile coverage as others, which could limit the sampling and respondent availability.

Contact us for your next Healthcare Market Research project in Europe.