The Evolution Of Health Literacy: Challenges And Opportunities For Clinical Trial Recruitment In The Digital Age

Over the past few decades, health literacy has improved significantly, fueled in large part by the widespread availability of the internet and social media. Yet, despite these advances, there remains considerable room for growth in helping the public understand and navigate health information.

In today’s digital landscape, where many individuals rely on social media for health knowledge, misinformation and disinformation can spread rapidly, creating confusion and eroding trust. For sponsors seeking to recruit patients for clinical trials, these challenges are particularly significant: failing to account for patients’ health literacy levels — or for differences in background, geography, and access — can result in missed opportunities to engage eligible participants.

By meeting potential participants where they are, both cognitively and geographically, sponsors can enhance comprehension, build trust, and increase willingness to participate, ultimately improving enrollment outcomes and promoting more inclusive, representative trials.