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
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 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
    Can Thinking Younger Make You Live Longer?
    April 20, 2011
    Image
    Obesity’s Outlook Unchanged
    June 13, 2011
    When It’s An Emergency Elderly Not Treated As Well in Hospitals
    July 16, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 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
Last updated: February 4, 2021 10:24 pm
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

healthcare business
Never Run Out of Patients: How SEO Fuels Consistent Growth for Medical Practices
Your Health is What You Drive: Digital Health in the Driver’s Seat
TEDxCambridge 2011 Twitter Feed
The PCMH and Home Care Data: An Interview with Melissa McCormack
ZipLine Medical: Surgical Wound Closure Without Stitches or Staples

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Image
eHealthMedical Innovations

Top 10 Quotes From Harvard’s First Forum On Healthcare Innovation

July 22, 2013

Push Accelerates for Artificial Pancreas for Type 1 Diabetes

June 24, 2011
Google Glass
eHealthMedical InnovationsMobile Health

Google Glass – Day 3: Future Healthcare Applications

July 11, 2013

IntelliCell BioSciences To Open Adipose Tissue Processing Centre in Houston

August 5, 2011
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?