How To Improve Patient Engagement And Retention Rates With Mobile Nurse Visits

Patient withdrawal is a persistent challenge in clinical research, often triggered by the difficult demands of site visits. In 2023, a staggering 29% of participants had to travel over an hour each way to clinics, with 18% finding trials disruptive to their routines. The toll is both physical and financial, with reimbursement inconsistencies and rigid schedules adding to the burden.

Decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) offer an innovative solution to this problem. These models, which have surged in popularity since the pandemic, promise a patient-centric revolution. By bringing trials to patients' doorsteps through mobile visits and telemedicine, DCTs not only enhance engagement but also mitigate attrition bias. Ellen Weiss, VP at PCM Trials, hails this shift, where nurses become "superglue" holding trials together, even facilitating doses in unconventional settings like family gatherings or national parks.

As DCTs continue to gain popularity, could this patient-first paradigm reshape the future of clinical research?