Finalist
SymTrac – A master class in patient-centred programme design
with support from Aurora
Summary of work
A revolution in multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments has meant pills are replacing infusions and injections, high efficacy treatments 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, underreporting 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. The agency 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 in the NHS Health Apps Library. MS patients changed their behaviour towards relapse-reporting as a result.
Judges’ comments
SymTrac is a neat tool that helps patients record their journey with relative ease. As one of the first apps to be ‘approved’ by the NHS it is a practical tool that isn’t gimmicky and offers a genuine support mechanism.
