Take a structured approach to in-person information sharing
When discussing trials with prospective participants, it can be tempting to jump directly to the specifics – this might be due to time or workload pressures, or assumptions about their background knowledge. But this risks not truly informing the patient. Their journey so far, health literacy level, and needs and wants are all hugely variable and can impact opportunities to take in information.
What site teams can do:
A structured approach, with a gradual build of information sharing, can help to facilitate openness, honesty, and meaningful discussions:
- 1
Get to know their thoughts, feelings and understanding of clinical trials in general
- 2
Check for language barriers, cultural barriers, or other stressors
- 3
Demonstrate care for and understanding of their perspectives
- 4
Acknowledge potential concerns, actively listening without interruption
- 5
Get a feel for their emotional profile – overall, do they seem confident, reassured, nervous, anxious? You can use this to guide your conversation and tailor topics of discussion
- 6
Establish their motivators for joining a clinical study (including whether they're personally motivated, or driven by advice from their doctor, etc.) so you can frame the study with this in mind
- 7
Present the trial as one of many options, reflecting the patient's personal preferences and needs
- 8
Break down the study specifics into easily digestible steps
But of course, this doesn't just apply to early engagement – it's a useful framework for building meaningful conversations at any timepoint throughout a trial. It may help to formalise this with a structured approach, with regular “temperature checks” throughout the trial to reassess motivators and emotional profiles. This may help identify and address disengagement early and effectively.
