Overcoming Clinical Trial Patient Recruitment And Retention Challenges

By Henryette Schatt, Ph.D., senior eCOA consultant, YPrime

Patient recruitment and retention in clinical trials is a perpetual challenge in the life sciences industry. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has only added to that difficulty. Additionally, the introduction of increasing amounts of technology into trials — from eDiaries and additional measurements during visits to wearables and connected devices — has been a double-edged sword. Used properly, these technologies can minimize patient burden and help participants to feel valued; misapplied, they complicate trial participation or increase patient burdens.

To achieve a more patient-centric approach in both traditionally conducted trials and those implementing different technologies, it is useful to examine the burdens a trial places on each patient throughout the trial. Due diligence also demands scrutiny of the pros and cons of technology implementation (i.e., where, when, and how it is used). Finally, trial participants benefit from sponsors that examine and execute strategies to help patients feel more valued, better informed, actively engaged in their treatment, and more comfortable with participation overall.