In this day in age, people expect convenience. We rely on our phones to book rides, order food, and check bank balances, so why should clinical trial participation be any different?
Mobile technology in clinical research is becoming the norm and continues to evolve and drive greater convenience in ways that are similar to the benefits we experience in our daily lives using other apps. By giving patients direct access to the information and resources they need in real-time, friction is reduced, and participants gain control over their experience.
The Burden of Being a Clinical Trial Participant
The need for mobile engagement tools became clear to me after hearing firsthand accounts from friends and colleagues who had participated in clinical trials. What many of us might consider to be routine tasks can become incredibly stressful when layered on top of an already difficult health journey.
Clinical trials can be time-consuming, costly, and logistically complicated. For many, participation requires frequent travel, time off work, and out-of-pocket expenses. For example, participants may be required to keep track of paper receipts and submit them to the research site. After submitting a receipt, they may have to wait weeks to be reimbursed, without clarity on the timeline. This all adds up, especially for participants who are dealing with serious health conditions, making an already challenging situation even more overwhelming.
Meeting Patients Where They Are
Mobile technology can help lighten the load. Whether enabling participants to take a picture of and submit receipts in real time, track reimbursements and easily access funds, view travel details, complete questionnaires or get answers to their questions, mobile apps can simplify key tasks all from a device they already use every day.
Privacy and compliance are also important considerations. Modern mobile platforms allow for easy redaction of identifying information on receipts and other documents—right from a phone or web browser. So not only are traditionally manual processes streamlined, but participants can have peace-of-mind that their information is secure
The result? A simpler experience for participants and sites alike. Participants benefit from an intuitive interface that helps centralize critical information and tasks, reducing effort and ensuring they stay informed. This drives increased participant satisfaction and engagement throughout the life of a trial. Sites are able to improve the way they interact with and support participants. This allows for greater connectivity and can ultimately help to improve retention – all while reducing manual effort and administrative burden on site staff.
The Future of Participant-Focused Technology in Clinical Trials
As the tools and technologies used in clinical trials continue to evolve, the goal remains the same: remove barriers to participation and create a more connected, supportive experience for study participants.
Mobile engagement isn’t just about digitizing forms or creating convenience—it’s about building trust, reducing stress, and making clinical research more accessible. When we do that successfully, we’re not just improving processes; we’re helping to improve lives.
Explore More on Mobile Engagement in Clinical Trials:
- Listen to the podcast this blog is based on
- Request a demo to see how our solutions can support your clinical trial
