By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Almost Anybody Qualifies for Medicaid in Maine
    November 23, 2012
    ebola and EHR
    Ebola: Are We Relying on EHR to Tell the Story?
    October 24, 2014
    Caitlin Kelly
    How Would You Fix Healthcare? – Question and Answers.
    January 16, 2013
    Latest News
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Patient Centricity in Clinical Trials Explained
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Technology > Medical Innovations > Patient Centricity in Clinical Trials Explained
Medical Innovations

Patient Centricity in Clinical Trials Explained

Jonathan Catley
Jonathan Catley
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

Patient centricity has become a buzzword in the clinical trial industry ? but what does it really mean?

Contents
  • Why (and How) Do Patients Enroll in Clinical Trials?
  • Improving Communication

These days, everyone seems to be talking about ?patient centricity? in clinical trials; however, I?m not sure that everyone fully grasps the meaning ? and the importance ? of this concept. For many, patient centricity or patient engagement may simply mean providing patients with basic information via a website, email, text, etc. In other words, it?s often a one-sided conversation. I recently came across an interview with Dr. John Whyte, the FDA?s Director of Professional Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement, in which he provides a more useful definition. According to Whyte, ?Patient engagement is about two-way communication, especially as it relates to trial design. It is about, early on, figuring out what your endpoints are and how you determine them with the patient in mind.? This concept isn?t exactly new ? consumer markets have been employing it for years, recognizing the impact of the internet and search early on, then adapting their marketing and engagement strategies to suit this new breed of ?empowered consumers.? But importantly, the goal of patient centricity isn?t just to speed up the drug approval process ? it?s a long-term strategy. Improving communication and the overall patient experience will undoubtedly enhance the reputation of clinical trials, which in turn will bolster patient and physician referrals, patient retention, and ultimately, cost efficiency. In this three-part series, we?ll explore some of the latest patient-centric tactics and technologies that are reshaping the clinical research landscape for sponsors and patients alike.

Why (and How) Do Patients Enroll in Clinical Trials?

True patient centricity demands a nuanced understanding of a patient?s mindset throughout his or her path to treatment. Why do patients choose to enroll in trials? What are the steps they take that lead them to that decision? Patients who sign up for clinical studies may be motivated by any number of factors, from financial considerations to sheer altruism. While the drivers may be varied, the path to treatment is typically the same: patients today invest a significant amount of time and energy conducting research online, learning everything they can about their condition, various treatment options (along with typical outcomes and potential side effects), trial locations, patient testimonials from similar trials, etc. For this reason, relying on traditional methods of recruitment, such as patient databases, is no longer enough. Just like in the path to purchasing a product, patients want to make their own decisions ? it?s the sponsor?s responsibility not only to ensure their trial is highly visible among the target patient demographic, but also that those patients have seamless access to all of the information they need to make a decision, or have a meaningful conversation with their doctor.

Improving Communication

In the past, the primary approach to clinical trial marketing was to focus on the physicians, who in turn would share the information with their patients. However, as patients become increasingly empowered, this model is becoming less and less effective. As a recent NIH article points out, the industry needs to adopt innovative tools and technologies designed to facilitate more meaningful, two-way communication between companies and consumers. For example, some companies are employing social listening techniques to monitor patient discussions online ? this allows for a more nuanced understanding of the mindset and some of the key issues for that particular demographic, which can then be used to drive better participation, retention, and relationships. Moreover, recent research from Tufts CSDD suggests that today, less than 0.2% of nurses and doctors actively refer patients to clinical studies. What?s behind this trend? Poor communication. The study found that ?nearly 30% of physicians and 45% of nurses reported never receiving initial or follow-up contact from investigative site staff following a referral, and a higher percentage reported never receiving their patients? clinical trial results.? Put simply, social media and the internet have made communication, personalization, and seamless access to information baseline expectations for patients and physicians alike. Sponsors need to ensure that the necessary channels (and materials) are accessible and intuitive if they want to keep their heads above water.

More Read

biopharma beat diagnostics
BioPharma Beat: The Promise of Diagnostics and Precision Medicine
Health Systems Technology Reducing Surgical Errors And Infections
A Quick Guide to Managing and Relieving Anal Fissures
7 Ways Robotic Technology is Shaping the Healthcare Industry
How Technology Bolsters Patient Care

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

engineer fitting prosthetic arm
How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
Health care
August 20, 2025
a woman explaining the document
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
Public Health
August 20, 2025
physiotherapist at work
How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
Health care
August 20, 2025
Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs
7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
Health News
August 20, 2025

You Might also Like

Waiting for the Robot Wheelchair

March 14, 2011
stem cell research
Medical EducationMedical InnovationsPolicy & Law

Heroes of Healing: The Trailblazers of Stem Cell Research

July 29, 2024
eHealthMedical DevicesMedical InnovationsPublic HealthWellness

People Suffering From Hearing Loss Can Be Helped By Technology

February 19, 2019
health and technology
eHealthMedical DevicesMedical InnovationsTechnology

Technology and Healthcare Efficiency: Not Always the Perfect Match

June 21, 2014
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?