iGuard.org Alters the Face of E-Health: New Web Service Draws 10,000 New
Patients Weekly
First and Only Site Allows Patients to See How Drugs Actually Work in Real
People
PRINCETON, N.J., April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, iGuard.org, a free,
patient-driven online healthcare community, announced the launch of an
innovative new tool that brings patient empowerment to a new level. With
almost half of all Americans taking prescription drugs, and eight out of ten
surfing the web for their healthcare information, iGuard.org now lets users
see real time reports of side effects experienced by iGuard.org members who
have completed a brief survey on their medication experience. This is the
first web service to give patients personalized drug information -- giving
them the knowledge and power they need to manage their own healthcare.
How is iGuard.org Different?
iGuard.org is now uniquely positioned to provide "live" updates on how
medications are working by posting real-time reports of side effects as
experienced by members. Unlike other health and drug-safety websites, which
provide static content, re-written information found on package inserts, and
forums for patient discussions, iGuard.org monitors how different drugs are
working across its network of users by conducting random surveys on an
on-going basis. Members of the community can easily access pooled, anonymous
information on side-effects, safety and effectiveness so they know what to
expect when starting a new treatment.
"iGuard.org was created for patients to share information in a simple,
structured way. No other site out there has a balanced information exchange
that 'demystifies' the process, can give our users a level of comfort and arm
them with the information they need to get informed and stay informed about
their healthcare," said Dr. Hugo Stephenson, founder and creator of iGuard.org
with a specialty in epidemiology and drug safety. "Since inception, the FDA
has given us feedback and direction on how to improve our value to those
patients. The release of this new data arms our patients with far more
information than they've ever had before."
The site, which went online in October last year, has taken off with more
than 10,000 new users signing up every week. Patients rely on the feedback
they find on the site and often communicate that information to their personal
doctors. "iGuard.org has been among the most valuable sites I've come across,"
said patient Mary Lou Sakosky of Troy, Ohio, who was diagnosed with several
conditions including heart disease, bipolar disorder, Bell's palsy and thyroid
disorders. "Without the site, I wouldn't have known about many of the side
effects for the prescriptions I'm taking and everything I need is in one
place. Thank God for iGuard.org."
Demystifying the Clinical Process
If patients want to learn about treatment options for their diagnosis,
they can see at a glance the average effectiveness and satisfaction scores,
the likelihood of side effects, and what additional information others wish
they were told before starting the medication. According to feedback of
iGuard.org patients taking a common pain medication to treat shingles and
fibromyalgia, 70% experience side effects, including drowsiness, weight gain,
grogginess and dizziness, and 45% wish they were told more about the potential
side effects before starting the medicine. And among users of a new smoking
cessation medication, 69% say they experience side effects, especially nausea
and vivid dreams, and 28% wish they were told more about the potential side
effects and potential drug interactions, prior to taking the medicine. Most
physicians don't have this type of information readily available for their
patients.
"It's crucial that patients receive accurate drug safety information, and
iGuard.org is an outstanding source for that information," according to Joe
and Terry Graedon, co-authors of the nationally syndicated The People's
Pharmacy(R) newspaper column, and co-hosts of the award-winning health talk
radio show, The People's Pharmacy(R), that airs weekly throughout the country.
"The site is easy to use and it takes complex information and makes it
available to consumers. The combination of patient feedback and side effect
analysis is hard to find anywhere else."
Helping the Scientific Community
Feedback obtained from the website extends beyond the patient to the
scientific community. Rather than accept advertising or sell data, iGuard.org
generates revenue by conducting surveys among the iGuard.org membership.
Pooled results from these surveys allow companies to learn about improving
drug research and development, as well as patient attitudes towards drugs
already on the market. Patients must first consent to participate in a survey
and are compensated for their time. "We feel very strongly that connecting
real patients in the real world with drug researchers will allow us to learn
about medicines much faster," stated Dr. Stephenson. "And in the end, isn't
that what we all want?"
About iGuard.org
iGuard.org, headquartered in Princeton, NJ, is a free and secure source of
information for registered users who want to get informed, stay informed and
share feedback about their medications. It offers balanced and timely content
to help patients manage their healthcare for themselves or loved ones.
Registration is free online at iGuard.org.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080430/CLW055LOGO )
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click
appropriate link.
Hugo Stephenson
http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=67979
SOURCE iGuard.org
Mari Mansfield of iGuard.org, +1-919-998-2639, mari.mansfield@iGuard.org; Lee
Migliara, +1-201-818-1087, lmigliara@mediamarketingopp.com, or Mike Simons,
+1-212-725-9427, msimons@mediamarketingopp.com, both of Media & Marketing
Opportunities
