The Catch-22 Of eConsent: The Missed Opportunity For Improved Clinical Trials

eConsent technology holds immense potential to revolutionize clinical trials, offering the promise of improved patient comprehension, greater satisfaction, higher retention rates, and better adherence to study protocols. However, despite its advantages, eConsent remains significantly underutilized.

The disconnect lies in its implementation. Too often, eConsent is treated as a mere digital replica of traditional paper forms rather than as a truly transformative tool that can enhance engagement and understanding. As a result, many deployments fail to deliver on their full potential, falling short of improving the informed consent process in a meaningful way.

This article delves into the key barriers preventing widespread and effective adoption of eConsent. Drawing on evidence from scientific literature, we examine the pitfalls that have hindered its success and propose actionable solutions to unlock its true value in clinical research.