Redefining Site Feasibility: A Call for Clarity and Collaboration

When patients were asked why they dropped out of clinical trials, one of the top answers was the study center’s location. 

Another survey asked all clinical trial participants–both those who dropped out and those who finished the trial–what parts of a trial were most burdensome. The top three responses were:

• Traveling to the study clinic (44%)
• Diagnostic tests (42%)
• The length of study visits (40%)

These statistics make it clear that traveling long distances for time-consuming study visits can be very disruptive to patients’ lives, especially if they work strict hours, are caregivers, or don’t have access to a car. 

Depending on protocols, it may not be possible to remove diagnostic tests or make visits shorter. But sponsors, CROs, and sites can increase patient retention in clinical trials by using decentralized methods to let patients participate from home or a closer location.