Skills interpreting data, understanding policy responses, communicating to the public/patient

Skills – interpreting data, understanding policy responses, communicating to the public/patient Kweku Rockson and Alex Dodoo MeTA CSO/Media Orientation 16 th April 2009

Overview
Interpreting data
Understanding policy responses
Communicating with the public
MeTA CSO Training 16th April 2009

Interpreting data - I
“ Lies, damn lies and statistics”
Facts or spinning
Drug X doubles your risk of having cancer
What is the incidence of cancer in this population being referred to?
What is the risk of cancer in the general population?
What are the benefits of taking this medicine?
What will happen if this medicine is NOT taken (will the patient die or suffer complication)?
Are there alternatives?

Interpreting data - II
Benefits of medicines (or the medicine)
The available alternatives
The cost (not price) of the alternatives
Terminologies used
Relative risk
Absolute risk
Effective
Cost effective
Efficacious
Safe
Beware of statistics, especially percentages
Always look for the “raw data” i.e. the absolutes

Understanding policy responses
National Drug Policy
National Malaria Policy
National HIV/AIDS Policy
National TB Policy
How are these policies developed?
Where can they be found?
Can or should government be held to account to deliver as per the policies?

How are policies developed?
In response to a national need
Experts gather and use “best practice” and evidence-based approach
Reference to international organizations usually WHO and WHA
Global information customized to fit the local situation
Policy formed should be informed by several factors including adaptability, acceptability and ability of the system to pay for it and ensures it appropriate application

The Malaria Example - I
Chloroquine the mainstay of malaria treatment
Parasite developed resistance
The drug did not work
Patients were not getting cured
Why did this happen?
Patients adherence
Doctors and other health workers practices
Manufacturing practices
WHO recommendation to “change policies” when treatment failure rates gets to 20% or more
Failure rates in Ghana falling
Ascertained by sentinel site testing (how representative are these sentinel sites)
Did the drug really fail or did we want to change?

The Malaria Example - II
Ghana decided to move to Artemisinin-combination therapy (ACT)
Four ACTs recommended by WHO
Amodiaquine + artesunate
Artesunate + SP
Artemether + lumefanthrine
Artesunate + mefloquine
Amodiaquine + Artesunate chosen because of
Cost
Ability to manufacture locally (do we have the ability?)
Was that the best and most cost effective treatment?
Safety issues

The Malaria Example - III
New proposed policy
Three first line medicines for uncomplicated malaria
Artesunate + amodiaquine
Artemether + lumefanthrine
Dihydroartemisinin + piperaquine
Awaiting cabinet approval
Is that the best?
DHA+P not yet “recommended by WHO”

Communicating with the public and patients
Multiple ways of communicating
From proper labelling of medicines to provision of drug information services to public health campaigns and programmes
Why should we be interested in communicating with the public?

Challenges Facing Patients - I
More medicines available
Pharmaceutical industry coming up with more medicines
Global initiatives e.g. 3-by-5, GFATM, ACT subsidy
Increasing use of therapeutic agents
Increased switches from “prescription only” to “over the counter” status
Cheaper medicines (generics)
Influx of counterfeits, sub-standard products etc
Increased use of traditional/herbal remedies either alone or concomitantly with allopathic medicines

Challenges Facing Patients - II
Explosion in information available to consumers
Increased direct-to-consumer advertising
Unregulated advertising (and challenges of restricting this)
Use of different media to promote medicines
Internet, TV, radio, newspapers, printed materials etc
Increased claims (and counter-claims) by various health professionals
End result:
Confusion to patients AND
Acute need for CREDIBLE info on safety and efficacy

How can health professionals communicate with the public
Written information
Television programmes
Telephone answering services
Leaflets and manuals

Television Programmes
Several programmes on TV talking about medicines and health
Let’s Talk About Drugs
Funded by the Department for International Development, UK
30-minute series on National TV during Prime Time hours
Used well-known actors (comedians)
Fictitious story lines interspersed with factual comments and “PowerPoint” slides
Very popular with the public
Omnibus version for public to phone in

Other examples
What are the other ways in which we can communicate with the public?
Is Access to Medicines an interesting topic?
How can the message be packaged appropriate?

Skills interpreting data, understanding policy responses, communicating to the public/patient

by MeTApresents on Apr 24, 2009

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Skills interpreting data, understanding policy responses, communicating to the public/patient — Presentation Transcript