Designing For Childhood, Not Just Compliance: The PXO Blueprint For Pediatric Clinical Trials

Pediatric clinical trials are among the most operationally and emotionally complex in drug development, requiring engagement strategies that extend beyond the patient to caregivers, families, schools, and communities. Traditional recruitment approaches—focused on compliance and simplified materials—often fail to address the nuanced decision-making ecosystem surrounding a child’s participation.

Jumo Health’s Patient Experience Optimization (PXO) model redefines pediatric trials as family-centered systems, integrating behaviorally intelligent strategies. PXO’s four foundational layers include Child Activation, Caregiver Confidence, Family System Enablement, and Site Adaptation. These factors address barriers like parental fear, logistical burdens, and low trust in industry-led research. By employing developmentally tailored education, caregiver decision support, and operational tools for sites, PXO transforms pediatric trial participation from an emotionally fraught milestone into a structured, supportive journey. This model isn’t just a patient engagement tool—it’s an operational imperative for ethically and efficiently conducting pediatric clinical research.