In the pharmaceutical sector, collecting patient feedback is becoming increasingly important, and for good reason: there’s strong evidence that putting patients and their viewpoints at the heart of the process yields significant benefits. A patient-centric research design improves clinical trial participation, patient recruitment and retention, trial outcomes, and time-to-market for life-changing technologies. However, a patient-centric clinical study necessitates a shift in focus. Additionally, clinical development consulting firms that employ trial design and execution strategies that are more patient-centric have made progress in decreasing the average trial enrollment time and cutting the time between the first patient dosage and product launch.
How do you design a patient-centered experiment to improve outcomes? Here are four tips for making your clinical trials more patient-centric.
Make patients feel valued
Patient engagement and retention are greatly affected by making participants feel appreciated. Provide patients with continuing support throughout the clinical trial process using their preferred method of communication, whether that be by phone, email, smartphone app, or letter. Maintain consistent communication with trial participants and provide timely follow-ups after each session to ensure all concerns are addressed. Making patients feel valued builds a genuine relationship and reduces their likelihood of dropping out of the trial since they trust their problems will be heard, considered, and resolved.
Make information accessible
The first step in patient-centered care is to ensure that patients’ informational requirements are met through the creation of easily accessible information, services, and support. Make your audience feel cared for and heard by tailoring information to their specific interests and requirements. They will also better understand the research and its ramifications. As a result, they care more about the study and its goal, which makes them less likely to quit. Content created with the patient in mind has been shown to increase engagement, ease worries, and establish trust, all of which contribute to higher retention rates in clinical trials. In addition, ensure that your digital and printed content is fully accessible by testing it with users of varying educational levels and different backgrounds.
Empower patients with tech
Multiple ways to empower patients in at home clinical trials have been introduced in recent technological advancements. Patients today have a greater awareness of their conditions and options than prior generations. Moreover, as digital experiences become increasingly prevalent in our daily lives, there are enormous opportunities to facilitate clinical trial participation through the use of digital trackers, wearable technology, virtual communication, and more. All these can give study organizers immediate patient feedback on real-life, real-time data while making patients feel like they’re in charge. As this technology improves and becomes more widespread, clinical trial participants’ expectations will change. And the most effective studies will be the ones that adjust to meet them.
Reducing inconvenience wherever possible
In terms of logistics, many clinical studies do not consider the demands of their participants. Traveling long distances for site visits or incurring expenses frustrates participants. If overlooked, these frustrations can contribute to dropouts. The success of your trial could require something as simple as establishing a quick and straightforward procedure for reimbursing expenses. Attention to these things boosts patient satisfaction and commitment. For instance, you can use mobile apps to expedite reimbursement of expenses, relieving patients of any monetary burden associated with participating in trials.
A patient-centered approach has several advantages. First, it can boost patient recruitment and retention. It can also improve data quality, given that patients are more likely to continue with a trial if they feel heard and their needs are satisfied.
