JERICHO, N.Y., Feb. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire-iReach/
To assist local businesses, digital marketing agency, fishbat, shares three ideas for improving clinical trial retention for patient recruitment companies.
Research shows that the average dropout rate across all clinical trials is 30%. Given the expense associated with conducting clinical trials, researchers and sponsors must do everything in their power to ensure a low dropout rate. Though some patient dropout is unavoidable, a large proportion of dropout is preventable. Top strategies for patient retention have now been devised based on research on patient dropout and retention. These include:
Increase convenience. Inconvenience is one of the reasons why patients leave clinical trials. To the extent possible, try to limit the number of site visits that the patient is required to attend, offer flexible appointment scheduling with evening and weekend options, and direct patients to clinical sites near their homes. Clinical trials may also want to consider providing transportation for patients without the means for travel. Offering home visits is another way to increase convenience.
When screening potential participants, it may be worth being frank about the distance of a clinical site from the patient's home so that the patient can make an informed decision about whether they will be able to make their appointments over several months. In some cases, it may be better for a patient to opt not to participate in the study if they feel there's a high likelihood that they will not be able to continue midway as this leaves more resources available for those who are more likely to complete the clinical trial.
Educate patients about the importance of adherence to protocol.Patients who do not take their medications as directed are prone to dropout usually because they do not see the results they were expecting. Patient education is recommended to prevent dropout due to problems with patient adherence. Patients need to be told about the importance of taking medication as directed and following all study protocol.
Address expectations at the beginning. It's important that patients begin clinical trials with realistic expectations. Those who expect a miracle and don't get it may disengage while those with more realistic expectations are likely to continue. It's important to manage patient expectations from the onset as well as throughout the study.
About fishbat
fishbat social media company is a full-service digital marketing firm and social media agency dedicated to connecting all types of businesses, like CTM ( CTM offers clinical research patient recruitment services), with their target audiences in the most effective and efficient way. Through innovative strategies in social media management, search engine optimization (SEO), branding, web design, reputation management and public relations, fishbat promotes a consistent and professional online voice for all its clients.
Media Contact: Scott Darrohn, fishbat Media, 855-347-4228, press@fishbat.com
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SOURCE fishbat
