Clinical Trial Patient Recruitment, though an important part of medical research, is one of the more difficult aspects of conducting a study. This challenge is caused by a variety of factors, including the fact that there are many misconceptions about research participation. Many patients see this as a barrier.
In developing a recruitment strategy for clinical trials, it is helpful to take into account the common misconceptions about research studies that may discourage participants. This can help to inform a plan to address any concerns they might have.
Misconceptions can prevent clinical trial patients from being recruited
Myth: Patients are only allowed to enroll in clinical trials that their doctors tell them about.
Reality Although physicians are still the preferred way for patients to learn about clinical trials, more and more patients want to get involved with research. About 80% of Americans search the Internet for medical information, including clinical trials. Tools such as Antidote Match help people find the best studies for them.
Despite the fact that patients have easy access to information about clinical trials, many still don’t understand what they mean. According to a recent Antidote study, only 20% feel “very knowledgeable” about clinical trials. However, keeping this knowledge gap in mind when creating outreach material can be useful. By educating potential participants about what a clinical trial involves, such as the time commitment and number of required visits, you can address common misconceptions.
Myth: Patients do not want to be informed about clinical trials via social media.
Reality Patients are using social media sites like Facebook to communicate, join support groups, and find out more about their conditions from advocacy and nonprofit organizations. Pew Research Center reports that one-third of consumers access health information through social media. Clinical trial recruitment companies are able to reach out to patients by targeting them and working with patient advocacy groups.
Myth: Patients don’t require all the information upfront about a clinical trial.
In reality, better information about a study can be provided in the advertisement or the study’s page. In an Antidote survey, 30% of respondents said they wanted more information about the drugs or procedures being tested. 25% stated that time commitment was important to their decision-making process.
Patients with chronic diseases are usually well-versed in the current treatments and may be curious to learn what makes a new treatment unique. To increase the effectiveness, it is a good idea to highlight these key pieces.
Misconception: Digital Recruitment is not the right approach for certain patient populations
Reality Today, 93% of Americans are online, and 72.2% of Americans use social media. Social media and internet access are also common in urban and rural areas and among all age groups. Digital recruitment can reach the patients who are most likely to qualify for a clinical trial. This is true even if they have very specific inclusion or exclusion criteria. Finding the right patients is easier when you work with a company that has connections with disease advocacy groups and nonprofits.
Myth: It is difficult to recruit patients for clinical trials.
Reality It can be difficult to understand the return on advertising investment when you first start digital patient recruitment. David Tindell warns that it is a common mistake not to use all the reporting tools available. He suggests that you dig into Meta’s audience insights to look more closely at the targeting and make changes to save money.
Our outreach materials at Antidote are carefully designed to dispel misconceptions, inform patients, and reach the right people. Download our case study to learn how we can help you recruit participants for your next clinical trial.