Why Use a Patient Recruitment Firm?

Where are the patients?

How many times have you heard the question “Where are the patients?”  Unfortunately, this simple and straightforward question comes up all too often and is the bane of clinical operations and board room discussions. All too often this critical area is usually the key determining factor as to whether or not a clinical trial will be successful or not. According to Kathleen B. Drennan, Chief of Global Marketing and Strategic Business Development at Iris Global Clinical Trials Solutions, patient recruitment and randomization are major problems that impede clinical trials.

However, despite the pivotal nature of this activity, patient recruitment planning usually takes a back seat to other functional activities associated with the trial such as the clinical trial budget, study site initiation activities, data monitoring, etc. There are many reasons for this but it usually comes down to the fact that most sponsors (biotech, pharmaceutical and device companies, etc.) feel that either the clinical trial sites or Contract Research Organization (CRO) will handle this very important function. Although this is true to a certain extent, it is not always the case and should never be assumed or totally relied upon.

Prior to initiating a trial, a lot of work goes into the site selection process. In many cases, the anticipated patient accrual rate will factor into the decision, but not always. Other reasons, such as the credibility of the site or Principle Investigator (PI) will play into the decision as well.  Therefore, many sites may not have the requisite number of patients for appropriate and timely accrual. Furthermore, a trial site initiated effort often leads to a local/random effort and nothing more. As far as CROs are concerned, they may or may not play a part in the recruitment process. If this activity is not stipulated in the contract, then it is best not to rely on them for patient enrollment activities.

By outsourcing your recruitment needs to a patient recruitment firm, you are more apt to experience a focused and centralized approach to patient recruitment, enrollment and retention. Your patient recruitment firm can provide all of the upfront research in order to target the appropriate message to the right people in the community. Furthermore, your patient recruitment partner can execute a wide array of outreach activities that can alert potential study subjects to your clinical trial. Such activities include, but are not limited to, advertising and media, advocacy development, physician referral programs and a variety of Direct to Consumer (DTC) activities. In short, the utilization of a focused effort using best-in-class activities will provide a far greater outcome than relying on the trial sites alone.

So, instead of dreading that inevitable question, “Where are the Patients?”—stay ahead of the curve by partnering with a patient recruitment firm at the outset of your trial. We’ll make sure your study is recruited on time and on budget!