Joslin Diabetes Center launches diabetes Web network for physicians

Joslin Diabetes Center launches diabetes Web network for physicians

Joslin Diabetes Center has launched the Joslin Professional Education Consortium (JPEC), a Web-based diabetes resource and community for primary care physicians. JPEC offers free social networking among peers and colleagues, as well as access to support and education to improve patient care for diabetes. It is designed to supplement CME activities. JPEC provides members with point-of-care access to support and patient education materials and opportunities to participate in interactive dialog with experts and colleagues about diabetes and its complications. The site also features performance improvement tools for self-assessment, which allows physicians to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.

Longitude Health Unveils MyHealthVillage.com

Longitude Health Unveils MyHealthVillage.com

Marketwire via NewsEdge :

SOMERSET, NJ, September 11 / MARKET WIRE/ --

Longitude Health, Inc. (www.longitudehealth.com), provider of web-based, guided health and wellness solutions for mid-size, self-insured companies, today announced that it will introduce for the first time MyHealthVillage.com -- an innovative health and wellness site providing free and insightful physician-guided input and peer-to-peer support on health, wellness and a variety of common chronic conditions including asthma, cholesterol, diabetes, and weight management. The Webinar will be held on September 18th at 2:30 pm (ET) and accessed via clicking here or copying and pasting the following URL into a browser:

https://bridgeview.webex.com/bridgeview/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=667141536

Join your peers in a live Webinar, as co-founders Dr. Jan Swaney and Tracy Korman introduce MyHealthVillage.com. CMO Dr. Swaney will briefly present MyHealthVillage.com's social networking functions and CEO Tracy Korman will share the long-term vision for MyHealthVillage.com as a resource for consumers, employers and physicians.

There is one kind of support that you can get from your doctor or your HealthGuide, but there is an altogether different type of support you get from people who share similar challenges.

At MyHealthVillage.com you can join one of the "hosted" discussions:

--  Community @ MyHealthVillage.com with Jan Swaney, M.D. covering general     health and wellness subjects --  Healthy Eating & Exercising @ MyHealthVillage.com hosted by Le Greta     Hudson, M.S., R.D., C.D.E. and other nationally known nutrition and     exercise experts --  Living with Chronic Conditions @ MyHealthVillage.com hosted by     registered nurse and certified diabetes educator Cindy Sears covering     coping with common chronic conditions     

Or you can create your own discussion. The site is FREE to join and FREE to use.

The Webinar will also detail how to use MyHealthVillage.com to find support, share challenges, get practical advice and celebrate health successes with easy-to-use tools for posting comments, starting your own blog, viewing informative videos, or sending secure messages to your peers.

Please join the health and wellness conversation, register now.

https://bridgeview.webex.com/bridgeview/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=667141536

Can't make the live Webinar? We invite you to directly log on to MyHealthVillage.com -- find support, share your challenges, get practical advice and celebrate your successes.

About Longitude Health, Inc. & MyHealthVillage.com

MyHealthVillage.com is owned and operated by Longitude Health, Inc. (longitudehealth.com), a privately held, company offering comprehensive web-based, guided health and productivity improvement solutions for consumers, employers and physicians. Its flexible tools and holistic approaches provide incentives, integrate with primary care physician oversight and enable social networking support for a completely collaborative solution leading to sustainable, long-term, healthy life style habits. Longitude Health's MyHealthVillage.com portal and HealthGuides provide a highly valued benefit while at the same time improving productivity, reducing health related costs and improving health related quality of life.

Based in New Jersey and with operations in Missouri, Longitude Health (www.longitudehealth.com) is a privately held, investor-backed company offering comprehensive web-based, guided health and productivity improvement solutions for mid-size, self-insured businesses. Its flexible tools and holistic approaches provide incentives, integrate with primary care physician oversight and enable social networking support for a completely collaborative solution leading to sustainable, long-term, healthy life style habits. For further information on Longitude Health visit www.longitudehealth.com.

 

Comcast launched Web and video on demand programming for breast cancer

Comcast launched Web and video on demand programming for breast cancer

Comcast has launched the "Pink Ribbon" campaign, a multiplatform video-on-demand and online initiative that provides programs about breast cancer that can be watched at home. The campaign offers more than 20 hours of content from Lifetime Networks, Discovery Health, and other partners. In addition, a partnership with Comcast and Breastcancer.org is part of Lifetime Network's 14th annual Stop Breast Cancer for Life campaign in October. Beginning this week and continuing through October, Comcast customers with On Demand service will have free access to related programs, including episodes of Sex and the City and other shows and movies.

The HealthCentral Network has the Third Largest Online Health Audience

The HealthCentral Network has the Third Largest Online Health Audience

PR Newswire via NewsEdge :

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The HealthCentral Network (www.HealthCentral.com) is the third most visited online health property behind WebMD and Everyday Health. The HealthCentral Network had 10.7 million unique visitors in July according to comScore. With the recently announced acquisition of TheBody.com, the company now reports a total of 11.3 million monthly unique visitors for July.

Through its unique approach of building highly-targeted, condition- specific and wellness web sites, The HealthCentral Network attracts not only a large audience, but a highly engaged one.

"Through acquisitions and strong organic growth, The HealthCentral Network has become one of the most visited online health sites," said Christopher M. Schroeder, CEO of The HealthCentral Network. "While having a large audience is important, The HealthCentral Network's unique ability to attract the highest quality, most engaged health consumers is even more valuable for advertisers."

According to comScore, the five most visited sites in the online health category, and their monthly unique visitors, are:

     1. WebMD                      17.27      2. Everyday Health            14.70      3. The HealthCentral Network  11.36*      4. Revolution Health          11.33      5. AOL Health                 11.10  

* Includes July 2008 comScore data and internally-reported figures for the recently-acquired TheBody.com. Numbers can be found at comScore under "The HealthCentral Network Properties," or at THCN.com under "Media Relations."

In January, The HealthCentral Network received a significant minority investment from IAC/Interactive Corp, and IAC Chairman Barry Diller sits on The HealthCentral Network's Board of Directors. The company recently announced two significant acquisitions: TheBody.com - the #1 HIV/AIDS interactive resource; and, MedTrackAlert - a leading provider of customized health and wellness news and information. The company also recently joined with IAC to create an online pharmaceutical marketing network that reaches over 50 million consumers.

About The HealthCentral Network

The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. By offering connections to renowned experts, a network of patients and caregivers who share "real world" experience, and in-depth information, sites in The HealthCentral Network make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and caregivers. The HealthCentral Network also manages the highest-quality health advertising network, not building size for size's sake - but targeting condition-specific audiences who value and engage with information from marketers on their terms.

SOURCE HealthCentral Network

 

Online Video is an Emerging Channel for Physicians to Connect with Pharmaceutical Companies

Online Video is an Emerging Channel for Physicians to Connect with Pharmaceutical Companies

PR Newswire via NewsEdge :

NEW YORK, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Physician interest in live video detail from sales reps is growing, according to the ePharma Physician(R) v8.0 physician market study by pharmaceutical and healthcare market research company Manhattan Research. Currently, about 45,000 U.S. physicians meet via online video with their sales reps, and over 300,000 more show interest in interacting with sales or other company representatives online.

Physicians already engaged in video detailing with sales reps are, for the most part, highly satisfied with their experience, according to the study. This sentiment may explain why these physicians are consistent users - physicians already participating in live video detailing sessions do so with an average of seven reps per month. Some pharmaceutical companies are already including this communication strategy in their plans - Aptilon recently added two additional top 10 global pharma companies as clients of their AxcelRx Live video detailing service.

"Incorporating live video details in the physician-sales rep relationship can be a win-win for both groups," said Meredith Abreu Ressi, Vice President of Research at Manhattan Research. "Depending on the company, it can be a cost-effective strategy for sales forces looking to reach physicians spread out over a wide territory, and physicians enjoy the flexibility and interactive features the sessions offer. Pharma companies should pay close attention to rep call centers that give healthcare professionals access to company representatives via telephone or web chat at any time, as many physicians express interest in this type of service."

Free Professional Marketing White Paper

Our professional marketing white paper, "Plugging into Physicians: Digital Marketing & Sales Strategies for Healthcare Companies," contains market data and trends for pharmaceutical, device, biotech, and healthcare companies looking to leverage technology to improve physician relationships in 2009. Download here: www.manhattanresearch.com/research/white-papers/plugging-into- physicians.aspx

About ePharma Physician(R) v8.0

ePharma Physician(R) v8.0 was conducted via online survey methodology in Q2 2008 among 1,681 online practicing U.S. physicians. The study and advisory service has determined the leading online physician destinations based on the number of physician visitors as well as the content satisfaction of those who visit and provides in-depth analysis of top product and corporate pharmaceutical websites, health portals, online journal sites, specialty- specific sites, newsletters, society sites, physicians and Web 2.0, physician online communities, electronic detailing, Tablet PCs, online conferences, physician customer service portals, tech-enabled sales forces, physician CRM, and more. For more information: www.manhattanresearch.com/products/Strategic_Advisory/ePP/

About Manhattan Research

Manhattan Research conducts annual research studies among physicians and consumers, including Taking the Pulse(R), Taking the Pulse(R) Europe, Taking the Pulse(R) Asia, ePharma Physician(R), Cybercitizen(R) Health, Cybercitizen(R) Health Europe, and ePharma Consumer(R). Broad consumer and physician research is complemented by targeted analysis among more than 80 consumer therapeutic segments and 25 physician specialist segments.

Manhattan Research, a Decision Resources, Inc. company, is a leading market research and advisory firm for pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. For more information, visit www.manhattanresearch.com, email sales@manhattanresearch.com or call 1.888.680.0800.

About Decision Resources, Inc.

Decision Resources, Inc. is a cohesive portfolio of companies that offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on important sectors of the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Please visit Decision Resources, Inc. at www.DecisionResourcesInc.com.

 

Boehringer Ingelheim sponsoring RLS education initiative

Boehringer Ingelheim sponsoring RLS education initiative

The Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Foundation and National Sleep Foundation are teaming to help increase awareness and understanding of RLS through a new Web site and public service announcement. The initiative is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. The site, www.WhatisRLS.org, will launch in time for RLS Awareness Week September 21–27, the groups said. The site will feature educational information and testimonials from RLS patients, a search tool for finding local healthcare professionals who specialize in RLS, a symptom diary, and other tools.

 

'Groundbreaking' campaign discusses HIV/AIDS in Hispanic community

The Kaiser Family Foundation and Univision Launch First National Spanish-Language Media Campaign Featuring HIV-Positive Latinos and Loved Ones

PR Newswire via NewsEdge :

Groundbreaking Ads Confront Stigma and Debunk Myths in Response to Latino AIDS Crisis

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Kaiser Family Foundation and Univision Communications Inc, the nation's leading Spanish-language media company today unveiled "SOY..." ("I AM..."), a groundbreaking Spanish-language media campaign featuring the personal stories of a diverse group of Latinos living with HIV and the people who love them. The campaign was previewed today for approximately 3,000 members of the HIV/AIDS community during the opening plenary session of the 2008 United States Conference on AIDS (USCA) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. SOY... will debut nationally on Univision network and radio in conjunction with National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) on October 15th and continue throughout 2009.

For the first time in a national media campaign, SOY... profiles HIV-positive Latinos and their loved ones speaking openly about subjects not commonly discussed in Hispanic households. Campaign participants range in age from two teenage sisters (one positive, one negative) from Los Angeles to a 77-year-old grandmother in Puerto Rico and her daughter in Miami who has been living with HIV for more than ten years.

Developed by Univision and the Kaiser Family Foundation, SOY... includes 12 original public service ads (PSAs) each in television and radio formats and Spanish-language HIV/AIDS information and resources available online through a dedicated website (http://www.univision.com Uniclave: SIDA) and via a toll-free Spanish-language hotline (1-866-TU-SALUD). The campaign was developed as part of Enterate del VIH y SIDA! (Get the Facts about HIV and AIDS!), a long-standing public information partnership established in 2001 between Univision and the Kaiser Family Foundation to provide culturally relevant Spanish-language information and resources about HIV/AIDS.

"Univision has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation, building on Univision's legacy of informing and empowering our audience," said Ivelisse Estrada, senior vice president, Corporate and Community Relations for Univision Communications. "SOY... encourages families to openly discuss the topic of HIV/AIDS."

"Despite its significant impact on the Latino community, AIDS is not discussed in many households," said Tina Hoff, vice president and director of Entertainment Media Partnerships at the Kaiser Family Foundation. "By helping to personalize HIV/AIDS through the individuals who opened their lives for this campaign, SOY... seeks to break down the stigma that allows this disease to spread."

Emmy-winning Univision journalist, Teresa Rodriguez, previewed SOY... today at USCA during a special plenary session examining the AIDS crisis facing U.S. Latinos. As part of the session, SOY... participants "Dee" and "Milagros" were joined by Dr. Carmen Zorrilla, an HIV-specialist OB-GYN at the University Hospital in Puerto Rico, and Guillermo Chacon of the Latino Commission on AIDS for an intimate discussion of the importance of speaking openly about HIV with family and loved ones, in schools, at churches and throughout the Latino community.

SOY... is an official media component of NLAAD. Univision and Kaiser are working with the Latino Commission on AIDS and the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) to distribute HIV/AIDS information resources and SOY... programming materials to community organizations, state and local health departments and local clinics across the country.

About HIV/AIDS and U.S. Latinos

Of the approximately 1.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States, about 200,000 are Latino. Latinos have been disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, accounting for 19 percent of AIDS cases diagnosed in 2006 while comprising only 15 percent of the U.S. population. Latinos are testing positive for HIV, being diagnosed with AIDS and dying from the disease at higher rates than whites in the United States. As the largest and fastest growing ethnic minority group in the United States, addressing the impact of HIV/AIDS in the Latino community takes on increased importance in efforts to improve the nation's health.

About Univision Communications

Univision Communications Inc. is the premier Spanish-language media company in the United States. Its operations include Univision Network, the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the U.S. reaching 97% of U.S. Hispanic Households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network, which was launched in 2002 and now reaches 85% of U.S. Hispanic Households; Galavision, the country's leading Spanish-language cable network; Univision Television Group, which owns and operates 63 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group which owns and/or operates 70 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and 5 stations in Puerto Rico; and Univision Online, the premier Spanish-language Internet destination in the U.S. located at http://www.univision.com. Univision Communications also has a 50% interest in TuTv, a joint venture formed to broadcast Televisa's pay television channels in the U.S. Univision Communications has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States.

About the Kaiser Family Foundation

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit private operating foundation, based in Menlo Park, California, dedicated to producing and communicating the best possible information, research and analysis on health issues for policymakers, the media, the health care community and the general public. Information on the Foundation's HIV/AIDS policy work, journalism training programs and media partnerships to educate the public about HIV is available at http://www.kff.org; daily news summary reports, webcasts and other online content on developments in HIV/AIDS are available on http://www.kaisernetwork.org; country-level facts and data are available at http://www.GlobalHealthFacts.org; and resources for reporters covering HIV/AIDS are available at http://www.GlobalHealthReporting.org.

SOURCE Henry J. Kaiser Foundation

Havas Drive Opens Practice--Unit will develop virtual communications tools for pharma clients

Havas Drive Opens Practice

Unit will develop virtual communications tools for pharma clients

Sept 10, 2008 (AdWeek)

By David Gianatasio

A Virtual Convention Booth, accessible on WebMD's Medscape, is a key launch offering of Havas Drive.

BOSTON Paris-based holding company Havas has launched a unit called Havas Drive, a 15-person operation focused on developing virtual communications and marketing tools for pharmaceutical clients.

Ed Stapor, senior partner, leads the group of strategists and designers who will also tap into Havas' broader digital services units on an as-needed basis.

Havas Drive is not an ad agency. Its mandate is to build virtual products that would allow doctors and other medical professionals access to relevant client information and insights. Ultimately, the long-term goal is forging a deeper relationship between the pharma companies and medical professionals.

David Jones, CEO of Havas' Euro RSCG network, said Havas Drive was formed "to create forward-looking strategies that reach audiences when and where they want to be reached. Havas Drive's unique offering delivers innovation with built-in return-on-investment, as the clients only pay for results."

Havas Drive develops licensed products and then makes them available to existing and new clients. Havas Drive does not create work for hire.

These include a 3-D Virtual Convention Booth, accessible via WebMD's Medscape site. The booth lets physicians experience the convention booth as if they were at the live event.

The unit at launch is also offering Virtual Hospital, an immersive interactive program for hospital staff designed to deliver complex brand messages, and Virtual Detail, which allows a virtual sales rep to deliver detailed advertiser info in a 3-D environment.

The launch comes as Big Pharma continues to struggle with its image in the consumer sector.

HAVAS partners with WebMD on "Virtual Convention Booth"

HAVAS partners with WebMD on "Virtual Convention Booth"

 

Euro RSCG Life parent HAVAS is partnering with WebMD for a new Virtual Convention Booth offering that aims to give healthcare professionals the 3D interactive experience online.

The Virtual Convention Booth is the first offering from a new HAVAS agency, HAVAS Drive, specializing in the design of virtual environments for patients and professionals. The shop, based in New York and with quality assurance staff in Portland, OR, is launching with a staff of 15 and several products that will offer pay-for-performance pricing. In addition to the Virtual Convention Booth, to be hosted on WebMD's Medscape using content supplied by clients. 

 

HAVAS Drive is also offering Virtual Detail, which allows a virtual sales rep to deliver a detail in a 3-D environment live or remotely, via the web or CD-ROM, and Virtual Hospital, an educational tool aimed at helping hospital staff optimize patient care through simulations drawn from case studies of real patients' experiences, from admission to discharge.

HAVAS Drive hopes Virtual Detail will appeal to companies looking to launch a product quickly, reach physicians in areas where they don't have coverage or disseminate new data fast.

The agency is also working on Virtual Patient, a consumer- and professional-facing application aimed at helping both audiences understand what a typical patient with a particular disease goes through on a daily basis. “We want to close the information gap between the physician and the patient,” said Ed Stapor, a partner at Euro RSCG Life who is leading the new shop.

Stapor said HAVAS has signed up clients for six Virtual Details, two Virtual Hospitals and one Virtual Convention Booth. All of the agency's products will offer performance-based pricing. “We will work with clients to define what metrics they are looking for, and then, that's how we'll get paid – per engagement, so that there's skin in the game for us,” said Stapor. Clients will also pay a licensing fee up front.  

 

Nat'l Headache Foundation to produce blog on HealthCentral community

Nat'l Headache Foundation to produce blog on HealthCentral community

The National Headache Foundation (NHF) will join HealthCentral's network of advisors and produce a regular blog for HealthCentral's migraine community at MyMigraineConnection.com. NHF sponsors research such as the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention Study, produces patient education materials, advocates for better patient education on migraine and other neurological disorders, and convenes interdisciplinary panels. It also establishes standards of care for headache diagnosis and treatment.

comScore: Online health info category surges in past year

comScore: Online health info category surges in past year

The online health information category has grown 21% during the past year, according to comScore. That's more than four times the growth rate of the total U.S. Internet population. WebMD Health leads the category with 17.3 million visitors in July (up 3% from a year ago). But comScore says three other health networks boosted the overall growth of the category: Everyday Health with 14.7 million visitors (up 63%), Revolution Health Network with 11.3 million visitors (up 182%), and AOL Health with 11.1 million visitors (up 88%). In June, nearly 54 million people had more than 1.5 billion display ad views via sites in the health information category. WebMD Health topped the list of display ad publishers, delivering 290 million display ad views and reaching nearly 15 million people at an average frequency of 19.3 times per visitor during the month.

American Diabetes Association tries to better educate men

American Diabetes Association Survey Identifies Issues Every Man With Diabetes Should Know

Marketwire via NewsEdge :

ALEXANDRIA, VA, September 9 / MARKET WIRE/ --

Click on the following link to view ADA Men's Health Campaign Video: http://www.firstlinemedia.com/video/ADA_Mens_Health_Campaign_v5.wmv

In addition to dealing with the day-to-day aspects of diabetes management that involve blood glucose, nutrition and lifestyle management, men in the United States with diabetes are also grappling with other physical, emotional and sexual health issues according to survey findings released today by the American Diabetes Association.

According to the research, only 30% of men surveyed claimed to know "a lot" about their disease and only one quarter (25%) of men with diabetes reported eating balanced and nutritious meals. Additionally, 60% of men felt that more information could help them better manage their disease, and 65% felt more information could help them have more useful conversations with their health care providers about their disease.

To respond to this need, the American Diabetes Association is launching a national educational campaign to provide men with diabetes -- and their spouses -- with information and resources to better manage their diabetes and the array of other health conditions that can be associated with this disease.

"The American Diabetes Association recognizes that there are many information needs for people with diabetes; this program is a major step toward filling in important gaps that specifically affect men. This campaign offers enhanced information and tools to help men better appreciate the importance of adopting a more comprehensive, or modern, approach to managing their diabetes," said Richard M. Bergenstal, M.D., Vice President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association. "These survey results reinforce that there are many health issues associated with diabetes that men currently overlook or aren't even aware of -- from managing blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol to physical, emotional, and sexual health issues such as erectile dysfunction and low testosterone."

In an effort to bridge the communication gap between men with diabetes, their health care providers, and significant others, the American Diabetes Association has developed a campaign with a focus on challenging men to take charge of their own health. Featuring a variety of new resources specifically for men, the campaign includes The Modern Man's Guide to Living Well with Diabetes handbook, an enhanced men's health section on the American Diabetes Association Web site at diabetes.org/menshealth and a public service announcement (PSA).

"Men can take small steps that can have a big impact on their ability to better manage their diabetes," said Dr. Bergenstal. "Doing what they know, like staying active, sticking to a healthful diet, learning about increased risks for related conditions, and talking with a doctor if they are suffering from bothersome symptoms, is the key to managing diabetes today."

Of the nearly 24 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes, 12 million are men. Many of these men are unaware that they are at an increased risk for complications such as heart attack, stroke, blindness, disease and amputation, as well as other conditions that affect their physical, sexual and emotional health. In fact, the survey showed that men with type 2 diabetes and the wives of such men are mostly unknowledgeable about low testosterone. With symptoms such as depressed mood, erectile dysfunction and fatigue, men with low testosterone may feel too frustrated, unmotivated or unaware to discuss disease-related complications with a doctor or loved one, further diminishing their ability to take a proactive approach to managing their disease.

Campaign Offers Support to Men with Diabetes

Committed to providing people with diabetes and their loved ones with the most comprehensive and up-to-date information, the updated American Diabetes Association men's health Web site (www.diabetes.org/menshealth) now offers enhanced resources to aid and empower men with diabetes who are seeking male-specific health information, including practical diet and exercise tips, information about sleep apnea and other conditions and information about physical, emotional and sexual health.

In addition to the availability of men's health-specific information online, the campaign will kick off a cross-country tour via its national Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes events this fall. As part of one of the country's largest series of charitable walks, 20 cities will feature a new Men's Health Corner booth where men and their spouses can speak with a health representative about a variety of men's health issues.

The Modern Man's Guide to Living Well with Diabetes handbook, a one-stop guide for men living with diabetes today, will also be available at the 20 Step Out events, on the enhanced men's health Web site and by calling 1-800-DIABETES. For more information about the campaign, its tools and how you can get involved in a Step Out event in your city, visit www.diabetes.org/menshealth.

About the Survey

The American Diabetes Association survey of 1,000 men with type 2 diabetes, age 40-60, and 1,000 female spouses of men with the disease assessed their knowledge of type 2 diabetes in general and its complications. The online survey also explored respondent's opinions about their overall quality of life and current approach to managing their disease. Results showed that men with type 2 diabetes know the proper things to do to better manage their condition, but are not doing them. Fewer than half of their wives think their spouses are actively engaging in activities such as physical exercise, reducing stress or maintaining a positive attitude that would help in the management of their type 2 diabetes. Results also found that the majority of men surveyed (79%) think a walking program in which the number of steps was recorded each day would be a beneficial tool to manage their condition.

Additional findings include:

--  Men with type 2 diabetes were likely to get less enjoyment out of     life, and say that the disease has negatively impacted their sex lives. --  These men also said they noticed a recent deterioration in their work     performance. --  Six in 10 men say that knowing more would help them better manage     their condition --  More than one-third of men surveyed are experiencing four or more     symptoms associated with low testosterone, but surprisingly, 66% of this     high-risk group admitted to knowing little -- if nothing at all -- about     the condition.     

About Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.

There are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.7 million people (or nearly one quarter) are unaware that they have the disease. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in the United States, accounting for 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. While diabetes occurs in people of all ages and races, some groups have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than others. For example, type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos/Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders. Type 2 diabetes is also most common in adults over 45, though the prevalence in younger people is on the rise.

About the American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

The campaign and survey were funded, in part, through a charitable contribution from Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Editor's Note: To view or download campaign and survey facts sheets, broadcast standard b-roll and other media assets, visit www.diabetes.org/menshealth.

For more information and to view the National Men's Health Education Campaign Fact Sheet, please visit http://www.firstlinemedia.com/ada/

Video-Link Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=830487

Marketers' Top 10 Wish List for Agencies of the Future

Marketers' Top 10 Wish List for Agencies of the Future

Source: Marketing Vox: Sept 8, 2008

http://www.marketingvox.com/marketers-top-10-wish-list-for-agencies-of-t
he-future-040802/

Greater knowledge of the digital space is at the top of marketers' list
of what they want from their advertising and marketing agencies in the
next 12 months, according to
<http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&new
sId=20080902005147> a Sapient <http://www.sapient.com/> -sponsored
national online survey of some 200 CMOs and other senior marketers,
writes
<http://www.marketingcharts.com/interactive/marketers-top-10-wish-list-f
or-agencies-of-the-future-5904/> MarketingCharts.

More than a quarter of marketers surveyed said half to all their
marketing is done via digital channels, and nearly 40 percent foresee
that in 12 months from half to all their marketing will be done via
digital channels.

The respondents, all of whom are either directly or indirectly
responsible for managing digital marketing budget allocation across
multiple channels, were asked about the top qualities they sought in
their advertising and marketing agencies in the coming year.

Based on the survey results, Sapient Interactive, Sapient's marketing
services group, issued a Top 10 Wish List for Agencies of the Future:

1. Greater knowledge of the digital space

More than one-third of marketers surveyed said they are not confident
that their current agency is well-positioned to take their brand through
the unchartered waters of online digital marketing and interactive
advertising.

Nearly half (45 percent) of the respondents have switched agencies (or
plan to switch in the next 12 months) for one with greater digital
knowledge or have hired an additional digital specialist to handle their
interactive campaigns.

Regarding an agency's area of expertise, 79 percent of respondents rated
"interactive/digital" functions as "important/very important."

2. More use of "pull interactions"

Nine in 10 respondents (90 percent) agree that to engage consumers with
their brand it is increasingly important that their agency uses "pull
interactions" such as social media and online communities rather than
traditional "push" campaigns.

3. Leverage virtual communities

An overwhelming 94 percent of respondents expressed interest in
leveraging virtual communities (public and private) to understand more
about their target audience.

4. Agency executives who use the technology they are recommending

92 percent of respondents said it was "somewhat" or "very" important
that agency employees use the technologies that they are recommending -
such as Facebook, Flickr, wikis, blogs, - in their personal social media
mix.

5. Chief Digital Officers make agencies more appealing

43 percent of marketers surveyed said agencies with chief digital
officers are more appealing than those without.

6. Web 2.0 and social media savvy

63 percent of marketers surveyed said an agency's Web 2.0 and social
media capabilities are "important/very important" when it comes to
agency selection.

7. Agencies that understand consumer behavior

76 percent of respondents deemed this as an "important/very important"
aspect of their agency's online digital marketing and interactive
advertising area of expertise.

8. Demonstrate strategic thinking

77 percent of marketers surveyed ranked strategy/brain trust
capabilities at the top of their agency wish list.

9. Branding and creative capabilities

67 percent of respondents ranked branding at the top of their agency
wish list while 76 percent ranked creative capabilities as
"important/very important."

10. Ability to measure success

65 percent ranked analytics at the top of their agency wish list.

"Marketers want agencies that can deliver on these demands today - not
by 2009 and beyond," said Gaston Legorburu, chief creative officer,
Sapient. "As the interactive channel becomes increasingly important,
only those agencies that can create, manage and measure multi-channel
campaigns will stay relevant and thrive in an uncertain economy."

About the survey: The Agency of the Future Survey is a national survey
designed to provide insight into what marketers want from their agencies
in the next 12 months. Sponsored by Sapient, the survey was conducted
via email and polled more than 200 respondents, all of whom are either
directly or indirectly responsible for managing digital marketing budget
allocation across multiple channels.

New Survey Reveals Communication Gap Between Healthcare Professionals and Pain Patients

New Survey Reveals Communication Gap Between Healthcare Professionals and Pain Patients

PR Newswire via NewsEdge :

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A nationwide survey found a sizable gap exists between patients and healthcare professionals when it comes to understanding and discussing pain. To address this discrepancy, a new coalition of leading pain management organizations has formed to improve how patients and healthcare professionals communicate with each other.

The Let's Talk Pain Coalition is the first of its kind to unite the perspectives of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to encourage people to talk more about pain, listen actively, and act in ways that improve care for the millions of people who live with pain. The organizations behind Let's Talk Pain have created a new interactive Web site, http://www.letstalkpain.org, to provide visitors with comprehensive information and tools to help enhance the dialogue between those affected by pain and healthcare professionals.

"Pain is one of the nation's leading public health problems, and it often goes under-treated. It is difficult to diagnose and challenging to talk about," said Dr. Scott Fishman, Chair and President of the American Pain Foundation and Chief of the Division of Pain Medicine and Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of California at Davis. "Open lines of communication and strong patient-professional relationships are what healthcare professionals strive for, and in pain management this is absolutely vital. This Coalition is exciting because it aims to help professionals and patients communicate better in order to help improve pain management."

The Let's Talk Pain Coalition debuts this week at the American Academy of Pain Management (the Academy) annual meeting in Nashville, TN. The Academy is one of the founding members of the Coalition along with the American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN) and the Coalition's lead organization, the American Pain Foundation (APF). PriCara(TM), Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is the sponsor of the Coalition.

One of the Coalition's first activities was a national online survey of pain patients and physicians. It revealed the need for an increase in open and direct conversations about pain and highlighted the impact pain has on patients' quality of life. The findings also underscored a disconnect between how patients and physicians are communicating with each other. Additional barriers such as lack of trust and not enough time for office visits can affect communications, and ultimately may influence pain management. According to the survey:

-- Sixty percent of patients strongly agreed that they can be open and honest about their pain with their physician. Yet, the same survey found that less than 10 percent of physicians strongly agreed that their patients tell them the truth about their pain.

-- While the majority of physicians, 97 percent, strongly agreed that there is enough time to discuss pain with their patients, less than half of patients surveyed, 46 percent, felt the same way.

-- Pain has a substantial impact on the lives of patients and interferes with their ability to work outside the home and to exercise.

-- Treatment-related side effects can have a negative impact on the management of pain, causing some patients and physicians to discontinue using pain medicine.

"Having pain is challenging and has significantly affected my daily life, to the point where I have had to stop working," said Andrea Cooper, a Maryland-based artist who suffers from chronic pain and is featured in a video on the Let's Talk Pain Web site. "Pain is an invisible condition. I have learned that the best way to improve my health and my treatment outcome is through engaging in an open and personal dialogue with my healthcare professional and connecting with others to talk about pain."

Andrea's story and the Let's Talk Pain Web site were previewed during the ASPMN annual conference in Tucson, AZ, for pain management nurses this past weekend. Several Web features were highlighted, including:

-- Talk: an interactive section where visitors - pain patients and healthcare professionals alike - can learn strategies for opening up the lines of communication about pain. Housed here are video success stories from real patients and healthcare professionals as well as an interactive Q&A with pain experts.

-- Listen: a clearinghouse of essential, credible information about pain. Here people with pain, healthcare professionals, caregivers, and family members can become familiar with pain terms and conditions as well as learn more about how pain is assessed so that it is easier to start an informed dialogue.

-- Act: a section with up-to-date information on how the Coalition is improving communication within the pain community.

"Let's Talk Pain offers the first pain resource that will effectively equip people to improve how they discuss pain so that the actions taken improve pain outcomes," said Nancy Eksterowicz, MSN, RN-BC, Department of Anesthesiology Acute Pain Service, University of Virginia Health System, and President-Elect of ASPMN. "The pain community has never had one online location for credible information, nor have we had a place where patients and healthcare professionals can connect to learn from each others' experiences."

About the Survey

The Let's Talk Pain Coalition commissioned a national, Internet-based survey of 500 pain patients and 275 physicians treating pain, including primary care physicians, oncologists, pain specialists, neurologists, rheumatologists, surgeons, and psychiatrists. Analytica International, a research firm based in New York, NY, conducted the survey from April 3 to 11, 2008.

American Pain Foundation

Founded in 1997, the American Pain Foundation (APF) is an independent nonprofit 501(c)3 organization serving people with pain through information, advocacy, and support. APF's mission is to improve the quality of life of people with pain by raising public awareness, providing practical information, promoting research, and advocating to remove barriers and to increase access to effective pain management. For more information, visit http://www.painfoundation.org.

American Academy of Pain Management

The American Academy of Pain Management (the Academy) is a nonprofit organization serving a broad range of clinicians who treat people with pain through education, information, and advocacy. Founded in 1988, the Academy has approximately 5,300 members and is the largest interdisciplinary/integrative pain organization in the United States.

American Society for Pain Management Nursing

American Society for Pain Management Nursing's mission is to advance and promote optimal nursing care for people affected by pain by promoting best nursing practice. This is accomplished through education, standards, advocacy, and research. Visit http://www.aspmn.org.

PriCara(TM), Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. PriCara(TM), Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a major health care company in the United States dedicated to the needs of primary care providers who serve a vital role on the frontline of medicine. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.PriCara.com.

SOURCE Let's Talk Pain Coalition

 

Trying on Clothes, 2.0

Trying on Clothes, 2.0

by James Bickers * * 21 Jul 2008

Shoppers at the Japanese department store Mitsukoshi find an electronic
concierge awaiting them when they arrive at the dressing room with
clothes and shoes in hand. As they walk in, an RFID reader detects the
tags affixed to the products; seconds later, a wall-mounted touchscreen
serves up product information and offers alternate sizes and compatible
accessories. If the shopper has picked up the wrong size or an
unfortunate color, he can press a few buttons to summon a store
associate with the correct item in hand.

The "Intelligent Fitting Room" system, designed and installed by Cisco,
has been in place at Mitsukoshi since 2006, and in that time apparel
department sales increased 15 percent over the previous year, while
wasted stockroom trips to check inventory were reduced by 25 percent.

It's one of a handful of test programs aimed at bringing high-tech into
the dressing room, but what remains to be seen is whether the customer
is interested. In a recent report "New Future In Store" by market
research firm TNS, 73 percent of shoppers said they expect to see
touchscreens in dressing rooms in the near future, but only 23 percent
said they would be likely to use them.

Does this RFID tag make me look fat?

High-tech dressing rooms have generated a lot of buzz in the past 18
months, but not a lot of real-world activity. Several high-profile
pilots have raked in the news crews and newspaper reporters, but no
full-scale deployments are yet on the ground.

"No one has fully deployed this in a customer-facing away," said Patrick
Moorhead, director of emerging media for Avenue A Razorfish. "But behind
the curtain, there is tons of activity in this space."

Moorhead says his company is working on a number of technologies that
are "one or two steps back from being commercially available" - and most
of the retailers that are interested in them are boutique retailers
rather than big-box. "They're retailers that own their own store
footprint in the U.S., and they tightly control the store environment,"
he said.

In September of 2007, German retailer Galeria Kaufhof made headlines
when it outfitted the entire third floor of its Essen-based department
store with item-level RFID tags. Shoppers entering a dressing room are
instantly shown product information, care instructions and price.
Touchscreens also are mounted on shelves out in the store, allowing
shoppers to determine whether or not their size is in stock without
manually wading through piles of garments.

A similar product, the "magicmirror" from Milan-based thebigpicture, has
been available for about a year, according to company principal Dick
Lockard. It's being piloted in retailers Levis and Throttleman, in the
U.S. Mexico, Portugal and France.

At last year's NRF tradeshow, technology designer IconNicholson unveiled
its "Social Retailing" dressing room solution to much fanfare. A few
months later, the system was used in a pop-up promotion at the
Bloomingdale's Nanette Lepore boutique. A high-concept mash-up of
clothes shopping and social networking, the system includes a camera
that sends a photo of the shopper in his new outfit to selected friends,
who can reply with their opinions and even suggest other items from the
catalog.

The concept goes back at least as far as 2001, when Prada experimented
with RFID tagging and "smart dressing rooms" in its Soho store. That
deployment famously ended in tears just a few years later; Business 2.0
magazine called it a "high-tech misstep," citing faulty technology,
too-high expectations and a bad attitude on the part of staff as the
culprits.

Customer demand and business intelligence

When the concept works, though, it can benefit all involved. Lockard
said stores using the magicmirror product are seeing sales uplift
between 25 to 40 percent from mirror users over non-mirror users. In the
case of Mitsukoshi, the retailer is building a database of customer
purchasing trends, according to Ed Jimenez, director of vertical
marketing for Cisco. Over time, that should result in a pretty rich set
of data to mine for product selection and merchandising ideas.

"Because you make each item unique with an RFID tag, you can gain some
business intelligence from the activity," said Tammy Stewart, business
development manager for technology company 5stat. A division of
90-year-old retail fixture manufacturer Store Kraft, 5stat sells a
turnkey RFID product called the Smart Fitting Room. "Say, certain items
are taken into the fitting room frequently but never purchased, or
they're being taken into the fitting room but they always ask for a
larger size."

Stewart said the Smart Fitting Room is currently being piloted with
several retailers, but couldn't disclose any names. 5stat has a similar
technology, though, on the sales floor at the company stores of
sunglasses maker Oakley. As customers try on glasses, they are
automatically shown product information and lifestyle clips in the same
mirror they use to gaze lovingly into their own eyes.

Still, perhaps the most important question remains unanswered, because
it has largely gone unasked: Do customers really want technology in the
dressing room?

"I don't believe consumers are sitting around waiting for these things,
but if the tech is designed in a way that delivers enhanced value to
whatever they're trying to do, they will adopt it immediately," said
Moorhead. "That's the story behind TiVo, that's the story behind most of
the Apple technologies, and we're making bets that that's going to be
the case with most emerging retail technology. It's not that shopping
sucks today, but the availability of technology to the consumer in the
shopping experience is going to enhance it for them, and they're going
to crave it once they understand that it's available to them."

Tool aims to improve Rx adherence using texts, other reminders

Tool aims to improve Rx adherence using texts, other reminders

A new tool aims to help retail, mail-order, and specialty pharmacies improve prescription medication adherence. The Varolii Adherence Outreach solution from Varolii Corporation enables delivery of automated, HIPAA-compliant communication to patients by phone, text messages, or e-mail. According to the company, pharmacies that are already using Varolii Adherence Outreach have seen an overall 10%–20% increase in refill efficiency for treated therapeutic classes, an 18% enrollment lift into auto-fill programs, and a doubling of prescription refill rates among patients enrolled in the program versus those who were not.

 

More Americans looking beyond their doctors for health info

More Americans looking beyond their doctors for health info

In 2007, 56% of American adults looked for information about personal health concerns from a source other than their doctor, according to a national study by the Center for Studying Health System Change. That's up from 38% in 2001. Most significant was the increase in the use of the Internet, the study found. Also, people with chronic conditions are more likely to seek health information. For example, two in three people with two or more chronic conditions (66%) sought health information in 2007, compared with one in two people without any chronic conditions (50%). Although the use of the Internet for health information has grown since 2001, a recent Harris Poll said that this year is the first since 1998 to not show an increase in the number of U.S. adults going online for health information.

New Study Finds Parents Embrace Alternative Treatments For Children's Asthma

New Study Finds Parents Embrace Alternative Treatments For Children's Asthma

18 Aug 2008   

Cymfony, a TNS Media Intelligence company, reported that caregivers of children with asthma discuss non-pharmaceutical treatment options more than twice as often as the most-discussed type of asthma drug. Cymfony drew this conclusion from its study of over 15,000 posts on blogs, discussion boards, and social network sites written between October 2007 - April 2008 in which parents discussed treatment approaches for their child's asthma.

"Pharmaceuticals play a central role in treatment of children with asthma, but parents see them as only part of the solution to their child's condition," according to Csaba Dancshazy, the Cymfony analyst who authored the report. "Parents seek information on managing their children's lifestyle as well as alternative therapies to complement the action of the medication. To meet these caregivers' needs for a range of ways to help their child cope, drug companies may wish to increase efforts in patient education to become a valued information source and not just one treatment option among many in the market."

Other findings from the study indicate that parents are somewhat negative about most classes of asthma drugs, with inhaled corticosteroids being the exception. And while about one-third of these discussions take place on disease-specific or general medical sites, the majority takes place on sites with no medical content.

"There has been steady growth in use of the Internet for both informational needs and emotional support around management of chronic conditions," said Cymfony President Andrew Bernstein. "Pharmaceutical brand marketers need to understand the online context for patients and caregivers."

The 30-page study, "Treating Pediatric Asthma," is available for purchase from Cymfony and TNS Healthcare. More information on the study is available at http://www.cymfony.com/asthma.asp.

Separately, Cymfony announced the availability of the only syndicated social media tracking service specifically focused on asthma brands. The service aggregates discussion of 22 medications in 7 therapeutic categories from over 8000 social media sources including message forums, discussion groups and blogs. Pharmaceutical marketing professionals can subscribe to this data to understand brand perceptions as well as the issues associated with the diagnosis and treatment of the disease among patients and caregivers.

Cymfony's ongoing social media tracking platform can be used to gain a near real-time understanding of consumer issues, questions, and concerns about asthma. For example, brands can measure the impact of specific campaigns by tracking the presence of messaging and changes in conversation volume. Social media analysis complements research methodologies such as surveys and focus groups. TNS Healthcare's physician panels and other services can be used to explore findings of the syndicated study.

About TNS Media Intelligence/Cymfony

TNS MI/Cymfony tells brands and companies what people are saying about them -- whether the people are bloggers, traditional journalists or even influential consumers. TNS MI/Cymfony sifts and interprets the millions of voices at the intersection of traditional and social media to gain insights that help companies identify the people, keep on top of the issues and respond to the trends impacting their business -- at the speed of the market. We call this approach to harnessing this new dynamic "market influence analytics."

TNS MI/Cymfony pioneered the innovative technology to extract meaning from high volumes and diverse sources of text. U.S. intelligence agencies have been relying on our technology for more than eight years. We are an innovator in the integration of social and traditional media, offering access to the greatest breadth of content sources and analytical expertise.

http://www.cymfony.com/asthma.asp

About TNS Healthcare

TNS Healthcare provides market research consulting to the worldwide pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries, as well as health-focused ad agencies, media and analysts. It offers globally consistent solutions and custom advisory services to support product introductions; brand, treatment and sales performance optimization; and physician and DTC promotional assessment.

Informing decisions across the life cycle, TNS Healthcare offers action-ready insights for pre-launch landscaping, market and opportunity assessment, segmentation, positioning, message and campaign creation, pricing, forecasting, attitude and awareness measurement and post-launch tracking. It delivers information across stakeholders -- including physicians, patients and consumers -- to help companies anticipate and impact customers' behaviors. TNS Healthcare provides both qualitative and quantitative offerings, using traditional and on-line methodologies, combining worldwide reach with local expertise.

 

YouTube video contest challenges consumers to share health stories

YouTube video contest challenges consumers to share health stories

Online health destination LIVESTRONG.COM has launched the "Dare To Share Your Story" Contest on YouTube. It lets contestants upload an original video about how they dared to make a healthy or positive change in their life or in someone else's life and post it as a video response to Lance Armstrong's call out video on YouTube.

LIVESTRONG.COM launched in June with 15,000 professional articles and videos, more than 350,000 nutritional food profiles, and 50,000 health and fitness–related questions and answers. Twelve finalists will be featured September 15 on LIVESTRONG.COM, and the site's community and visitors will vote to determine the winner of the "Dare To Share Your Story" Contest.

Report provides help for companies looking to use social media marketing

Report provides help for companies looking to use social media marketing

A new benchmark report aims to create a road map for companies that want to use social media to drive marketing improvement. The report, from Harte-Hanks company Aberdeen, examines more than 300 organizations. In its analysis, it places particular emphasis on how best-in-class companies launch successful viral campaigns, form and participate in niche communities, and spur brand advocacy through social media marketing. For example, best-in-class organizations are nearly 18 times more likely than "Laggard" companies to gain visibility into consumer-generated content. They are also 19 times more likely than Laggards to increase marketing effectiveness, and 80 times more likely to increase return on marketing investment.

The report, a "Social Media Marketing: The Latest Buzz on Word of Mouth," is cosponsored by the Word of Mouth Marketing Association and is available here:

http://www.aberdeen.com/includes/asp/sponsored_registration.asp?ci=/launch/report/benchmark/5133-RA-social-media-marketing.asp&spid=