The Importance of Retention in Clinical Research

Ever signed up for something and thought, "Yep, I'm totally committed," only to ghost it two weeks later? (Hello, gym memberships and language apps!) Yeah, me too. But here's the thing: when it comes to clinical research, ghosting isn't just inconvenient, it's actually a huge deal.

What Exactly is Clinical Research Retention?

Imagine you're binge-watching a Netflix series. You're hooked, popcorn in hand, but suddenly, halfway through, episodes start disappearing. Frustrating, right? You need the whole story! Clinical research works the same way. Researchers need participants to stick around until the end to get reliable results.

Retention isn't just a boring buzzword researchers throw around; it's the backbone of successful clinical studies. When participants drop out, studies can lose credibility, cost heaps more money, and even grind to a complete halt. In fact, approximately 80% of clinical trials are delayed or closed because of problems with recruitment.

Why Retention Matters for All of Us

Clinical research helps us discover life-changing treatments and therapies. Ever taken medication or benefited from healthcare? (Yep, everyone nods.) You've directly benefited from clinical research. The fewer participants stick around, the slower these critical discoveries become.

Think of clinical trials as a team sport. Every single participant plays a crucial role. If people keep leaving halfway, it's like losing key players mid-game. Suddenly, everything falls apart. Accurate and complete data rely heavily on participants completing the study. Without this data, researchers can't be confident in their findings, and critical advancements might be delayed.

Why Do People Leave Clinical Trials?

Now, you might wonder, why do people leave trials in the first place? Well, life happens. Things come up, priorities shift, and suddenly making it to weekly check-ins feels harder than dodging seagulls at the beach while holding hot chips. Maybe it’s work, family commitments, or simply losing interest.

Sometimes it's even simpler, communication breakdowns. Participants might feel confused or overwhelmed by what's expected of them, especially when medical jargon starts sounding like another language entirely.

Even worse, imagine you’re a participant stuck with tech that freezes mid-use, glitches like crazy, and drives you up the wall. We’ve been there. Pushing our studies to over 85% retention since 2024 was a slog, full of hard lessons when testing fell short. At OnTracka, we have overcome these obstacles and now proudly maintain industry-leading retention rates.

Strategies to Keep Participants Engaged

Good news, researchers aren't blind to this. Teams are getting creative, offering flexible scheduling, virtual check-ins, and even little perks (coffee vouchers, anyone?) to keep folks engaged. Virtual trials are on the rise, helping participants contribute from the comfort of their own homes.

Personal touches also go a long way. Small gestures, like personalised messages or thank-you notes, can really resonate. Even something as simple as a friendly reminder text or phone call can significantly boost retention rates.

Plus, technology that works as expected. Seems easy enough to say but the reality of providing these studies to the regulatory standard required while also a smoothly running technology with complex protocols is really hard.

However, the difference when getting all ths right is the magic behind retention and it is the blueprint for how OnTracka is changing how clinical trials work. OnTracka runs hybrid studies, blending virtual check-ins, wearable tech, personalised reminders and a simple process to achieve the results we have. Think about it like this. Imagine joining a clinical trial without constantly reshuffling your schedule or getting lost in medical-speak. OnTracka's mobile and web apps make it easy to participate from home, keep you informed about the process, and simplify the entire process. It's about making your experience better while still getting accurate and quality data.

So, if you’re ever invited to join a clinical study, or if you're already in one, remember: staying the study makes a real difference. It's about being part of something bigger, contributing to health breakthroughs that can help millions. It's about potentially saving lives or improving quality of life for future generations. Pretty epic, right?

And hey, researchers, keep things fun and engaging! Remember, nobody likes feeling like they're trapped in a never-ending survey. Be human, be understanding, and maybe chuck in an occasional Tim Tam. It works wonders, trust me.

So next time you think about ghosting that study, pause and think of the impact you’re making. By sticking around, you're literally helping shape the future of healthcare. Stick around, your future self (and maybe even the world) will thank you.