One of the biggest factors affecting rates of patient recruitment for clinical trials is the number of people who initially apply that can’t then be contacted in order to get them to go through an initial screening process.

In order to mitigate against this issue, we can implement different strategies to ensure as many of the initial applicants are contacted as possible.

For example, sending an immediate response via the patient’s chosen method, such as text or email. Or having them download an app, or communicate with a chatbot if they’ve applied online. Or have someone follow up with a swift phone call – the nearer to the time of the application being submitted the better.

The key factor is to be able to provide a range of options that suit their circumstances – enabling us to contact them in a timely manner and not have them simply become another person who is ‘uncontactable’.