Disparities in Care: A Lucid Connected Intelligence Data-Driven Analysis of Schizophrenia Care Among Black Patients
CASE STUDY: SOCIAL DETERMINANTES OF HEALTH
The Challenge
A CNS brand dedicated to culturally inclusive healthcare faced a crucial challenge: identifying and addressing potential care inequities within the schizophrenia patient population. They required validation of their hypotheses concerning disparities affecting their Black patient demographic and sought to enrich their understanding to inform and ensure their marketing approaches were relevant to any real-world care inequities.
The Solution
We conducted a comprehensive, retrospective analysis of extensive real-world medical and pharmacy claims data to illuminate care inequities. We constructed a comparative framework, placing Black patients as the focus against the broader patient population. This test and control approach was not just about identifying disparities but understanding them in the context of complex social and healthcare dynamics. This method was pivotal in quantifying differences in care settings, treatment accessibility, and financial burdens. By leveraging our healthcare expertise paired with our advanced analytical chops, we were able to conduct a thorough and curious exploration. We recognize that behind every data point lies a story–a narrative of patient experience and provide practice. Our team employed robust statistical modeling to dissect these stories, ensuring that our analysis went beyond mere observation to uncover the significance and causation behind the trends. Our sophisticated statistical models examined variations in care with a critical eye, enabling us to ascertain the weight of our findings. We interrogated the data, looking for patterns of deviation in treatment choices, frequency of care, and economic burdens that could speak to larger systemic issues. By pairing our healthcare acumen with a relentless pursuit of insight through advanced analytics, we transformed raw data into a catalyst for strategic planning.
Outcomes
Our analysis found that Black patients with schizophrenia were prescribed older, less effective first-generation antipsychotics at a greater rate than other patients, were more likely to be on government insurance, paid more out of pocket for medical costs, and overall were seen less frequently by their care providers. Armed with these insights, we worked with the client to develop marketing strategies that included equitable care initiatives.