WHITEPAPER

WHITEPAPER

Rapid Patient Recruitment Acceleration in Clinical Trials: Targeting Bottlenecks

Efficient patient recruitment is key to the success of clinical trials, and slow enrollment can severely thwart progress costing time and valuable funds. This whitepaper delves into five impactful strategies to swiftly accelerate patient recruitment in sluggish clinical trials. Recognizing bottlenecks is the starting point—these choke points could be at trial sites, within marketing endeavors, in communication methods, CRO oversight, or even the trial’s design itself.

 

The patient journey from interest to enrollment can be fraught with obstacles. Streamlining this journey with digital innovations like electronic informed consent, remote screening questionnaires, and virtual consultations removes friction and enhances the path to participation.

The healthcare professionals stand as gatekeepers in this process. Equipping them with resources and insights can ensure they are powerful supporters. Building this collaborative ecosystem assures a smoother navigation toward enrollment.

1. Strategic Bottleneck Identification: Trace the Drop-Off Points

Understanding why potential participants disengage is crucial. Begin by evaluating if the issue is at the trial sites. Do sites have sufficient patients in their databases? Are they dedicating ample time to connect with referrals and conduct phone screens? If patients are eligible but aren’t attending site visits, pinpoint why. Is there a retention problem and you are losing eligible or enrolled patients?

2. Sites Optimization: Strengthening Patient Engagement

Databases: Check the site patient database engagement to see if the number of patients committed during contract phase is the number contacted. How are they being contacted and what is the response rate? For example are they being sent letters when most people are more comfortable responding to emails or online? Is there a mismatch in expectations and real eligible numbers and why?

Site/study coordinator (SC) time: Have the sites allocated enough SC time to your study? Investigate if sites are allocating sufficient time to follow-up on referrals and conduct phone screenings. Check number of calls and emails to each referral and review responses. Review the messages SCs are leaving for patients – do they include the study name, condition, clinic name and SC name? Does the SC leave a specific phone number that may be answered or does it go to VM?

No shows: If site visit attendance is low, it might reflect logistical issues or patient concerns. Review numbers of no-shows of eligible people and enrolled patients. Consider an SMS reminder 2 hours prior to the appointment, or even send an Uber to pick them up. Engage early checking they know when the appointment is and get them to confirm if they are going to attend – if they are not note the reason for review.

Legal: Are the legal patient consent documents sent via email with inadequate explaination? Are they sent prior to taking to the patient on the phone? Patient consent documentation can cause concern and distress with some people wanting to share with their legal representative prior to signing.

3. Targeted Marketing: Maximizing Reach

Advertising spend: Are the sites getting referrals via advertising and marketing? Is this a centralized process or are they managing local advertising themselves? Ensure all advertising has tracking so you know what is working and what is not. Review response rates ie phone calls, emails and online forms per advertising campaign. Correlate with enrollments so you know which campaigns are most effective. Do more of what is working.

Centralized? If they are centralized, assess the efficiency of advertising and marketing efforts. Are they reaching the right audience? Ensuring targeted outreach is vital for attracting eligible patients. Employ data-driven strategies to refine messaging and expand the campaign’s reach.

Patient Advocacy Groups? Engaging with patient advocacy groups can unlock valuable networks. These groups possess a direct link to patient communities, enabling targeted outreach. Collaborate to leverage their insights and connections, enhancing recruitment efficiency.

4. Trial Design - Protocol Updates

Review roadblocks realtime to see if there is a need to amend the protocol.

Is the protocol patient-friendly? Can some of the visits be home visits or telemedicine?

Consider transport and accommodation for people living in remote areas so they can access the trial and support enrollment numbers.

5. CRO Support

Evaluate CRO involvement—are they maintaining adequate site oversight? Collaborate closely with CROs to ensure that sites are well-supported and aligned with recruitment goals.

Efficient patient recruitment is key to the success of clinical trials, and slow enrollment can severely thwart progress costing time and valuable funds. This whitepaper delves into five impactful strategies to swiftly accelerate patient recruitment in sluggish clinical trials. Recognizing bottlenecks is the starting point—these choke points could be at trial sites, within marketing endeavors, in communication methods, CRO oversight, or even the trial’s design itself.

 

Expediting patient recruitment is essential for the timely completion of clinical trials. By diagnosing bottlenecks, optimizing site engagement, refining marketing tactics, improving communication strategies, and enhancing CRO support, recruitment momentum can be revitalized. Additionally, tapping into the networks of patient advocacy groups can provide an additional boost. The cumulative impact of these strategies can drive clinical trials towards successful and timely completion.