Managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requires a proactive, clinical approach that prioritizes early intervention and effective treatment strategies. Despite evidence supporting the benefits of long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) in slowing disease progression and preventing exacerbations, short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs) are often trialed multiple times before escalating to long-acting therapies. This delay can hinder optimal outcomes, as earlier initiation of LAMAs has been associated with better disease control shown to improve lung function and reduce the risk of long-term decline.

Barriers to early adoption of maintenance therapies include misconceptions about disease severity, inadequate awareness of clinical guidelines, and fragmented care coordination. Additionally, inconsistent patient education on the benefits of long-acting treatments contributes to suboptimal adherence and persistence. Addressing these gaps is critical to delivering better outcomes for COPD patients.

Clinical strategies, such as initiating LAMAs earlier in the treatment process and utilizing clear, tailored patient education, can bridge these gaps. Ensuring consistent follow-ups and interprofessional collaboration also enhances treatment adherence and empowers patients to play an active role in managing their disease.

How do you encourage early initiation of long-acting therapies in COPD management? How do you overcome barriers to adherence and improve patient outcomes?

Q&A: Supporting HCPs in a Digital World

Dr. Kyle Brownback joins us to discuss how industry partners can support healthcare professionals in an ever-changing digital world.

Transcript

Moderator: Hello, everyone. Welcome to today's Q&A session on healthcare professionals and industry support in an ever-changing digital world. My name is Victoria, and I will be your moderator. I'm pleased to introduce our guest, Dr. Kyle Brownback. Dr. Brownback is an associate professor of medicine in the division of pulmonary critical care and sleep medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He has extensive experience treating COPD, asthma, and other common pulmonary conditions. Dr. Brownback earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, and completed his residency at Brown University, followed by a fellowship training at the University of Kansas. He's an active member of several professional societies, and serves as a principal investigator in clinical research, focused on pleural diseases. His academic contributions include numerous peer-reviewed publications in pulmonary and critical care medicine. Dr. Brownback, thank you so much for joining us for this unique discussion.

Kyle Brownback, MD: Nice to be here as well.

Moderator: My first question for you today is, what advantages have you noticed in being able to request or review product materials and samples on your own schedule without needing to coordinate a face-to-face visit?

Kyle Brownback, MD: Yes, I find them to be useful in allowing me to not be rushed during the process of learning about a product that I may be prescribing to my patient. Often during the daytime when we see patients, we are very rushed with many tasks. Being able to review that information either before my workday begins or after it is over when I am not as rushed has been very useful for me as I can commit my full attention to it.

Moderator: Have virtual platforms made it easier for you to get timely updates on product changes, new indications or patient support programs?

Kyle Brownback, MD: They have. I found that they are a good way for me to interact with any new changes as far as indications for the products that I'm prescribing. They generally streamline the information I receive into headlines that are either relevant to me or not. If they are relevant, it's easy for me to dive deeper into those topics to answer some of the questions that I have regarding specific products.

Moderator: What types of digital tools or resources would better support you in your day-to-day practice, whether that is clinical decision support, patient education, or streamlined communication with industry reps?

Kyle Brownback, MD: I find that streamlined communication is probably the best for me. I'm always a little bit hesitant to connect my patients directly with a pharmaceutical company. I feel like I should be the one helping my patients to make the best medical decisions for them. To do that, I need to be as knowledgeable about the ways to treat their conditions after I've made those diagnoses. I feel like the best way that I can be supported is by having that information given to me in a meaningful way so that I'm able to digest it, and fit the information into my own clinical decision making with regards to patients and their conditions.

Moderator: My fourth question for you is, how do your needs from industry partners change throughout the life cycle of a drug? Where does digital support fit into that?

Kyle Brownback, MD: This is a very interesting question, because I think of it as a very evolving pathway. During the initial phases, it becomes important to get the name out there to discuss the clinical trial, the phase 3 data, and what the primary outcomes are along with tolerability, safety, and efficacy. Once we've gotten that information, I think a lot of questions become about the logistics of that medication. How is it dosed? How is it delivered? What sort of nuances will there be for prescribing that sort of product? And then, after we have experience with the product, that's where things kind of evolve moving forward.

Will there be expanded indications for different disease processes? Will there be comparative products entering the market? How does it compare to other products based on either real-world data, head-to-head data, or claims data? Digital interactions become important when we are choosing products, especially when multiple products are available in the same market space.

As we get closer to launching these types of products, we need to know the nuances of prescribing and dosing. One thing that I'd like to have delivered to me digitally are any updates on long-term safety, because that's often a question that we have when we utilize a new product. When we get to year 5, 6, or 7 with these new products, having messaging around the long-term efficacy and safety backed up by years of data is very helpful.

Moderator: Thank you. My final question for you is, what does meaningful digital engagement look like from industry partners, and what makes it feel more helpful than intrusive?

Kyle Brownback, MD: What makes it feel more helpful is sticking to one key topic. I find that the most helpful ones have one key point for the headline and data underneath it that supports it. Relevancy and having the information that needs conveyed up front is crucial. This helps me understand if the content is meant for me or if it is meant for another provider. Lastly, including links to assist me in finding the information I need is also important to me.

Moderator: This brings us to the end of our session today. Thank you, Dr. Brownback, for taking the time to share your insights and experiences in working with industry partners as digital engagement becomes more prevalent.

Kyle Brownback, MD: Thank you very much.

Transcript edited for clarity.