Online Patient Recruitment Strategies - Optimizing the clinical trial process

With the rising costs, length and complexity of clinical trials, drug development is subject to huge delays, translating into delays in getting a drug to market and millions of dollars in lost sales. Optimizing the recruitment process through web-based technologies can cut delays in clinical trials and can also be used to maintain relationships with patients to improve the clinical trial process.

With rising internet penetration, online recruitment offers increased geographical reach and can provide huge cost savings as there is no costs for staffing or expensive advertising. A significant advantage of the internet over the other more traditional media, is that it offers an educational platform as more information can be given to patients.

Although about half a billion dollars are spent annually on mass media patient recruitment advertising and promotion, only a minority of the public has a basic understanding of the clinical research process. Poor perception was seen as the biggest hurdle in patient recruitment.

Once the potential volunteers have been targeted, it is important to convert them into participants. The key to successfully attracting and recruiting patients, is to work closely with patients and investigators, with efficient feedback mechanisms and a cohesive strategic plan in order to achieve a patient-centric approach for enrolment.

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