Over the past 12 months, we have been eagerly approached by an ever increasing number of clients interested in using mobile messaging technology to help reduce the operating costs of Japanese clinical studies. With the relative cost per patient for Japanese clinical studies being over twice as high as that of the US, our clients were enthusiastic to adopt our technology to help them decrease the cost associated with patient non-retention and non-compliance.
In response to these requests, Exco InTouch introduces SmartPhone Messenger™ as the newest member of our growing repertoire of products. Released this month, SmartPhone Messenger™ pioneers the way for pharmaceutical and healthcare organisations to address the cost of patient non-retention and non-compliance in Japan with the use of mobile technology.
SmartPhone Messenger™ was developed to address the specific mobile messaging requirements (such as i-Mode) of the Japanese market. To ensure that we met the advanced needs of 3G phones and the fine intricacies of the Japanese language, we employed the expertise of 2 Japanese consultants. One of the consultants focused on technology infrastructure and configuration specific to the Japanese market. The other consultant focused on the user interface design, usability and kanji text on the SmartPhone Messenger™ website. To ensure message delivery across all networks, we performed intensive connectivity testing with mobile users in Japan. As with REACT™, SmartPhone Messenger™ does not require a specific device to be distributed to the patient, it works directly on the patients own mobile phone, making it both convenient for the patient and cost effective for sponsor.
SmartPhone Messenger™ has already been adopted for use in a clinical study by one of the top 5 pharmaceutical companies, reminding patients to attend their appointments. The website is used by site staff for enrolling the patient into the study. Kanji messages are automatically scheduled and subsequently sent to the patient’s phone according to the next visit date. Site staff can verify when messages were sent, edit patient details and withdraw patients from the study via the website.
Although SmartPhone Messenger™ was developed to help increase patient retention and compliance, we all know that when site staff find a solution difficult to work with, they won’t use it. Feedback about the look and feel of the website has been very positive. One user exclaimed "it is a lot easier than I thought it would be!". SmartPhone Messenger™ is destined to be met with the same enthusiasm that our other products have in the past.
SmartPhone Messenger™ was designed for the Japanese market and is available with a standard Kanji interface. Although 3G messaging has its origins in Japan, it is an emerging technology in other geographic regions. We also provide SmartPhone Messenger™ with an English interface for other markets.
