Keep in touch, even if the patient isn't eligible
Obviously, many patients are excluded from clinical studies because they do not meet eligibility criteria.
However:
1 in 4
patients withdrew before enrolment due to not hearing back from site staff
1 in 20
ineligible participants were referred to another study
This is a massive missed opportunity, leaving patients who are otherwise motivated and engaged in clinical research to start their journey again from scratch.
What sponsors can do:
Where permitted, commit to data-sharing plans, resources, and communication plans to support participant referrals across related studies.
What site teams can do:
Set clear expectations with patients as to when, why, and how you will communicate with them, and prioritise meeting these commitments. If the patient is ineligible, be as clear as possible about which eligibility criteria they did not meet. If there are delays in determining eligibility, a holding email or phone call can often be better than silence.
