A recent survey conducted by SCORR Marketing and Applied Clinical Trials has unveiled a concerning disconnect between industry rhetoric and actual investment in patient engagement within clinical trials, revealing significant opportunities for improvement across the pharmaceutical research sector.
Current State of Patient Engagement
The survey, which gathered responses from various stakeholders including sponsors, contract research organizations (CROs), and research sites, found that 41% of companies do not solicit patient feedback at all. Among those that do engage with patients, most rely on basic methods such as surveys, patient communities, and advocacy group interactions.
Financial constraints emerge as a major obstacle, with 26% of respondents identifying lack of budget as their primary challenge in implementing patient engagement initiatives. Furthermore, 32% indicated that budget limitations would significantly impact their future engagement efforts. Consequently, only a modest increase in patient engagement activities is expected over the next two years, with 36% of respondents projecting minimal growth.
Organizational Disparities in Implementation
The research revealed striking differences in how various organizations approach patient engagement. CROs show particularly low commitment, with only 13% having dedicated patient engagement personnel. In contrast, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies lead the sector with 38% maintaining dedicated staff for patient engagement activities.
Smaller organizations, particularly those with fewer than 1,000 employees, demonstrate less consistent patient engagement practices compared to their larger counterparts. The survey found that 48% of smaller companies sought patient input less frequently than larger organizations (28%).
Engagement Methods and Effectiveness
Current patient engagement initiatives primarily focus on basic functions such as:
- Educating patients about clinical trials
- Providing appointment reminders
- Managing dosing schedules
Notably, only 38% of companies create mechanisms for patients to ask additional questions, and just one-third engage patients in sharing trial results. Patient retention serves as the primary metric for 53% of companies, while 47% measure protocol adherence. Surprisingly, 24% of respondents reported having no patient engagement metrics at all.
Technology Integration and Traditional Approaches
Despite the digital health revolution, traditional communication methods prove most effective in maintaining patient engagement. Face-to-face interactions and phone calls consistently outperform technological solutions in terms of patient retention and satisfaction.
The adoption of digital health technologies shows mixed results:
- 21% report no improvement in ROI from patient retention technologies
- 43% remain uncertain about the value of mHealth and companion apps
- 46% indicate no technology tools are necessary for trial participation
Larger companies report more positive experiences with technology, with 41% noting beneficial ROI from digital tools compared to just 16% of smaller companies.
Future Implications
The findings suggest a significant opportunity for improvement in patient engagement across the clinical trial industry. While companies acknowledge the importance of patient engagement in theory, practical implementation and resource allocation remain inadequate. The gap between stated priorities and actual investment indicates a need for strategic reassessment of patient engagement initiatives across the clinical research sector.
