Fixing The Friction In Trial Enrollment: From Persuasion To Activation

Patients don’t say “no” because they’re unwilling to enroll in a clinical study. They say “no” because clinical trials haven’t been made easy, clear or personally meaningful to say “yes.” Every decision to join (or avoid) a clinical trial is shaped by a web of micro-barriers: confusion, fear, overload and inertia. This webinar reframes the enrollment problem through the lens of choice architecture and patient activation, two behavioral science frameworks that reveal why good trials fail to earn patient participation.

The featured speakers explore how applying the science of choice, including framing, defaults, simplification and social proof, can reshape the way trials are offered, perceived and accepted. Combined with patient activation strategies that boost confidence, comprehension and agency, this approach offers a replicable way to design trial experiences that work with human decision-making, not against it.

Drawing on evidence from real-world trials, this session will offer a practical roadmap for transforming a patient’s “no” into an informed and empowered “yes.” It’s not about persuading harder; it’s about designing smarter.