Use Multiple Communication
Methods to Engage Your Audience
The recruitment committee can help you
identify a series of touchpoints that your target
population will experience throughout the patient
journey. These may include personal interactions
with clinicians and support groups, or digital
engagement through platforms such as Fox Trial
Finder (foxtrialfinder.org). Think about how best to
communicate with your target population at these
touchpoints. For example:
+ + Create a study website that serves as a
clearinghouse of information about participation
in your trial
+ + Obtain a toll-free telephone number for your
study that can be posted on your website
or printed on outreach materials, so that
individuals can call for information and ask
questions
+ + Post flyers or educational materials in the office
of a neurologist or movement disorder specialist
+ + Conduct outreach at your clinic using pamphlets,
talking points and other educational materials
+ + Leverage electronic health records and electronic
databases managed by your institution
+ + Promote your trial via advocacy and
patient-facing organizations using websites,
newsletters, webinars, podcasts or blogs
+ + Send emails, newsletters and blogs about your
trial to your network listserv or to network
listservs of community organizations and patient
advocacy organizations
+ + Host webinars featuring study leadership to help
individuals learn more about your trial and trial
team members
Once you and the recruitment committee have
generated a list of the top three or four methods
to reach your target population (base the number
of methods you select on available bandwidth
and resources), you can begin to flesh out your
recruitment strategy. This strategy should include
a timeline with milestones for different methods
of engagement, as well as the number and type of
messages that you will use with each. The timeline
for your recruitment strategy should correspond
with the projected enrollment period. If possible,
track the number of referrals and/or inquiries that
you receive from each method of engagement.
This will help you to determine which of these
strategies was most effective and which was least
effective in recruitment and where efforts should
be concentrated.
+ + Present information on your trial and ways to
get involved in research at support groups and
primary care clinics using educational slide decks
+ + Create a trial posting on Fox Trial Finder, The
Michael J. Fox Foundation's online clinical trial
matching tool.
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Accelerating Clinical Trials: Best Practices for Recruitment and Retention