Highly Commended
SymTrac – Creativity and user driven insights inspire first NHS approved MS app
Summary of work
A revolution in multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments has meant pills are replacing infusions and injections, treatments with high efficacy levels are raising patient expectations and people with MS have access to more treatments than ever before. However, the pace of developments was at risk of leaving the individual patient behind. A UK study revealed 46% of MS patients were not reporting relapses, despite the domino effect on health and finances. Even worse, under-reporting was affecting clinical decisions about treatments. The significance of relapses had to be brought back into clinical decision-making to help make the most of consultations and put patients back in control of their health. Aurora worked with the MS community to co-create the solution. SymTrac is a free app that enables users to track their general well-being and MS symptoms over time to build-up a valuable picture of their health. The data recorded can be viewed in easy-to-read charts, helping to make the most of consultations and support self-management. SymTrac was propelled into social media by the MS community, with downloads doubling expectations. SymTrac became the first MS-specific app on the NHS Health Apps Library. MS patients changed their behaviour towards relapse reporting as a result.
Judges’ comments
This was a brilliant piece of marketing with strong stakeholder engagement and a collaborative approach to its development. They made sure they touched every digital setting and getting SymTrac into the NHS app store was a massive endorsement of the work.
