Hybrid trials are now more common than ever after the pandemic. Patients no longer need to visit the physical research site to participate in the trial. Therefore, a reliable clinical research organization must develop policies to navigate the virtual interactions between the Veristat research officers and the patients.
The rules of engagement in a research trial have changed because everyone is committed to supporting the continuance of medical innovations and keeping the clinical trials on track. Here are a few strategies to employ and maintain the trials on track:
Encourage open communication
Effective communication is characterized by the open and frequent sharing of information. It is always essential to seek to understand the people you will be working with and also understand how they communicate. Once you understand how they communicate, you will be in a position to rely on them through the trial life cycle.
Early consultation
The success of any clinical trial is determined by the degree to which the stakeholders’ expectations are met. Early consultations during the trial are essential to ensure that all the requirements are met and that all delivery solutions are understood. All the expectations need to be understood by all the stakeholders.
Put human feeling into consideration
It is essential to always run the trial while considering human feelings. This means you operate with the awareness of potential personal challenges and human emotions. Your stakeholders’ behavior can determine a project’s success or failure. When you understand the cause of their behavior, you will be in a better position to avoid any issues that may cause roadblocks. Identifying ways to make it easier for all the stakeholders to contribute to the project for them not to feel left out is also essential.
Plan for stakeholder engagement
Come up with a clear and concise roadmap for stakeholder engagement. When you invest enough time to understand what your stakeholders expect, you can predict what they will expect from the clinical trial, which increases the chances of success of your clinical trial. Once you come up with planning strategies and risk mitigations, you are in a better position to achieve the desired outcome of your project.
Minimize the medical jargon
One of the best ways to interact with your patients is to minimize the complex clinical terms they might not understand. Use the simplest explanations possible for all the processes and procedures. It is also essential to leave the door open for the patients to ask for more in-depth or complex information about their procedures. This way, they will be more comfortable when they know what is happening to them.
Use repetition
It is crucial to ensure that the core message is highlighted more than once. Repetition helps to reinforce essential information. Your stakeholders will understand better what you expect from them throughout the trial.
The pandemic has made virtual interactions more common in clinical trials. It is therefore essential to develop strategies to ensure that you keep your patients engaged to increase your retention and the success of your trial.
