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• Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Imperative of Patient Recruitment and Research Opportunities

On this special episode of Phase Forward, we are joined by Pedro Rosés Diaz de Rada, Director in Project Management at Innovaderm for the occasion of the 2024 EADV in Amsterdam. Pedro has an extensive 20 experience in pharmaceutical and CRO environment and has a proven track record of strong leadership and mentoring cross-functional teams. His strengths lie in global clinical trial management, complex portfolio delivery, and ensuring project objectives are met. 

This episode explores the Power of Patient Recruitment in Clinical Trials, focusing on 4 main points:

1. The importance of Patient Recruitment
2. Patient-Centric Approaches
3. Strategies to Boost Recruitment
4. The latest Innovations in the field 

The Role of Patient Recruitment and Engagement 

Ensuring the success of clinical trial involves multiple factors, but 2 of the most critical are timelines and cost. The success of a study heavily depends on enrolling the necessary patients within a short period. Failure to recruit patients on time leads to delays, creating a ripple effect that can postpone the treatment’s market release. 

Approximately 80% of clinical trials fail to meet enrollment deadlines, and around 30% fail due to enrolling inadequate patients. Each delay significantly increases costs for the sponsor. Therefore, the recruitment period is one of the primary drivers of the study timeline. Effective patient recruitment and engagement are essential. If recruitment falls short, which means that you do not have enough data to draw meaningful conclusions, the trial may need to be extended to collect more data or otherwise the study could be prematurely terminated. This underscores the vital role of patient recruitment and engagement in clinical trials.

Key Challenges in Patient Recruitment

Patient recruitment in clinical trials faces numerous challenges, making it one of the most significant hurdles. A primary issue is the lack of awareness and education about trials. Many potential participants are unaware of ongoing trials that they might qualify for. This lack of awareness is a major barrier to recruitment.

Additionally, logistical and eligibility barriers play a crucial role. These include the complexities of meeting trial criteria and the practicalities of participating in a study. However, the industry is evolving, and new strategies and technologies are emerging to address these challenges.

Patient-centric approaches, decentralized trials, and effective pre-study awareness campaigns are proving beneficial. Local and central study recruitment campaigns, along with greater patient engagement, are key to overcoming many of these challenges.

The Impact of Patient Centricity on Recruitment and Retention

The patient-centric approach, although widely discussed, is often not implemented effectively. In recent years, this approach has gained prominence not only for improving patient experience but also for enhancing recruitment and retention in clinical trials. Integrating this approach requires focusing on patients’ needs, preferences, and experiences. Patients should be viewed as partners rather than mere data points or participants to manage.

Implementing this approach involves several key elements.

1. Engaging with patients early in the trial process is essential. Informing, empowering, and supporting patients from the outset increases the likelihood of their participation and retention throughout the trial.
2. Reducing barriers for participants is also essential, making the study more attractive and accessible.
3. Improving communication is another critical aspect. Patients need to understand what is expected of them, the benefits of participating, and why their involvement is necessary. Effective communication fosters understanding and commitment.
4. Finally, prioritizing the patient's experience from start to finish is vital. This includes not only initial screening period but also the entire duration of the study.

The goal of the patient-centric approach is to build trust and strengthen relationships with both patients and participating sites, which is key for the success of the trial. Without patient and site participation, clinical trials cannot proceed.

Enhancing Recruitment Outcomes Through a Well-Defined Patient Journey 

Understanding the patients’ journey is paramount for successful recruitment in order to bring them to the trial. This process involves 2 main steps: a pre-awareness campaign and a central recruitment campaign.

The pre-awareness campaign is essential for connecting with potential patients. It aims to educate and raise awareness about the specific study medical condition and the upcoming study. This campaign should begin several months before the actual recruitment starts, ensuring a pool of pre-identified, potentially eligible participants is ready when the trial begins.

Once the pre-awareness campaign is complete, the central recruitment campaign starts. This campaign extends the pre-awareness efforts, now specifically targeting the study. It establishes a centralized platform to manage all recruitment efforts, simplifying the process for both potential patients and participating sites. One significant advantage of a central campaign is the ability to expedite prescreening, screening and enrollment processes. Participants complete a prescreening qualification questionnaire on the central platform, which quickly determines their eligibility and connects them with participating sites for further evaluation.

Additionally, a centralized campaign can reach a broader audience through multi-channel marketing strategies, including social media advertisements, Google search campaigns, and targeted media marketing. This approach maximizes the campaign’s reach and ensures no potential participants are overlooked.

The combination of pre-awareness and central campaigns help meet recruitment targets ahead of schedule, positively impacting recruitment timelines and resulting in cost savings.

Future Trends in Patient Recruitment: Insights and Predictions

The future of patient recruitment is evolving rapidly with advances in patient-centric strategies, technology, and digital engagement. These innovations are crucial for making recruitment faster, more efficient, and more inclusive than ever before. It is important to highlight the transformative role of digital recruitment platforms. These platforms will play a key role in identifying and enrolling patients in clinical trials, revolutionizing the recruitment process.

As we conclude another illuminating episode of Phase Forward, we find ourselves at the crossroads of science and progress. Remember that behind the jargon and statistics, lies stories of unwavering commitment, meticulous observation, and the pursuit of evidence that shapes our understanding of health and disease. Stay at the forefront of knowledge and innovation and follow Phase Forward on your preferred platform. My name is Valerie Coveney. Thank you for joining us. Until next time. 

Let’s shape the future of research and make a difference in the industry, gain Innovaderm’s support in your upcoming trial and propel your study to new heights.

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