True patient-focused research through decentralised and hybrid trials

How can pharma improve the patient-centricity of its trials during COVID-19 and beyond? Experts from across the sector give their thoughts on the key approaches and technologies that are driving patient engagement forward.

With COVID-19 presenting new barriers to running and recruiting for clinical trials, making studies patient-centric is more important now than ever before.

According to one analysis, conducted by Global Data, approximately 67% of trial disruptions during the early stages of the pandemic were due to the suspension of enrolment, followed by the delayed start of planned trials at 18.4% and slow enrolment at 14.4%.

Ensuring that trials are easy to access and don’t overly burden the patient is essential amidst these potential disruptions – but a truly patient-centric trial has benefits beyond enrolment.

Trials that are engaging and easy to partake in can lead to higher adherence, higher satisfaction, improved data quality and overall performance, and can even give participants a more positive view of the sponsor company in terms of their commitment to bring new treatments to patients.

• Read the full article in pharmaphorum's Deep Dive digital magazine