What Patients Are Asking For In Clinical Trials, According To The CISCRP 2025 Survey

By Dave Hine, Senior Director, Solutions Consulting at Suvoda

Patient participation in clinical trials is shaped less by motivation and more by practicality. New global insights from over 12,800 respondents reveal how everyday logistics — travel, compensation, and caregiver support — can determine whether participants enroll and stay engaged. Travel burden, often underestimated, rivals invasive procedures as one of the most disruptive aspects of participation, especially for oncology and rare disease populations who may travel long distances to specialized sites.

At the same time, compensation practices lag behind participant expectations. Many contributors receive little or no reimbursement, and when they do, payment methods frequently fail to reflect what is most convenient or meaningful. These gaps signal a broader disconnect between trial design and real-world participant needs.

Another critical, yet overlooked, factor is the role of caregivers. From managing schedules to providing emotional and practical support, caregivers absorb significant burden — yet are rarely considered explicitly in protocol planning. Addressing their needs can have a measurable impact on retention.

Together, these insights point to a clear takeaway: offering flexible, patient-centered options isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s essential for reducing burden, improving continuity, and building more resilient clinical trials. Explore the full findings to see how these lessons can be applied in practice.