Choosing the right training device is one of the most important decisions a brand can make in shaping its patient experience. Both platform and custom training devices play a key role in shaping the patient experience, offering patients the fundamental opportunity to familiarize themselves with their therapeutic treatment and explore the feel and function of their self-administration device while gaining confidence through hands-on practice.
So, how should a brand choose whether to offer a platform-based versus a custom-developed training device?
The decision may seem daunting because, for patients using self-injectable therapies, the right training device can make all the difference in treatment efficacy. However, this seemingly difficult choice often comes down to factors such as timing, budget, or brand strategy.
As long as patients are properly supported throughout their journey, there is no “one, single answer” to this question.
What matters is that patients feel empowered to be adherent in their therapeutic journey. As patients become and remain adherent, treatment efficacy can improve and produce optimized results.
Platform Devices: Speedy, Cost-Efficient, and Customizable Branding
Choosing a platform training device can offer several advantages, particularly for teams looking to launch quickly or scale efficiently:
- Faster to Market: Design, tooling and validation have already been completed, which means fewer development steps and a faster path to launch, allowing patients to begin treatment sooner.
- Lower Development Costs: Since tooling already exists, companies avoid the cost and complexity of building custom molds. Tooling usage fees for platform devices are often lower, offering a more budget-friendly route to deployment.
- Brand Differentiation: Even though the underlying device is standardized, platform models can still be customized with brand colors and labeling, providing a degree of personalization without the time and investment required for full customization.
Custom Devices: Precision-Designed UX Built for Your Brand
Custom-developed training devices give brands maximum flexibility and design control. This is an important consideration when patient-specific needs or brand identity take center stage:
- Ergonomic and UX Customization: Devices can be designed from the ground up to address user-specific requirements such as dexterity, injection time or preferred administration method. These human factors considerations are essential for enhancing usability and reducing training burden.
- Distinct Brand Identity: Custom devices allow companies to make a bold, unmistakable statement. These solutions are tailored to reflect a brand’s values, visual identity and patient experience goals.
- Greater Control Over Specifications: Custom devices offer more granular oversight across the development process, from performance testing to tactile feedback.
Bridging the Gap for Patients’ Health Management
The choice between platform and custom devices hinges on timing, budget, or brand strategy. Ultimately, it comes down to one thing: supporting the patient experience.
Healthcare professionals (HCPs) only receive an average of 17 minutes of training annually for biologic initiation, and less than half report receiving soft-skill training to help patients navigate the emotional challenges of treatment. This training gap often makes patients unprepared to manage their health needs. Left unaddressed, this can impact their adherence and treatment outcomes.
This chain of events highlights exactly why device training should never be an afterthought. By prioritizing comprehensive training solutions, brands can help bridge this gap, ensuring that both patients and HCPs feel equipped for success. Investing in thoughtful onboarding strategies fosters a more seamless patient experience, reinforcing the critical role of training in long-term health outcomes.
Noble: Innovative Solutions for Consistent Patient Adherence
Whether platform-based or customized, a well-designed training device can enhance confidence, reduce anxiety and improve overall treatment adherence. Ultimately, the right choice is the one that best supports patients on their path to better health.
Visit Noble for more information on training solutions to provide your patients with the best health management experience.
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