“Google It.” Those two words encapsulate our modern approach to seeking information. And when it comes to research, the first instinct a potential participant may have is to jump online to find more details. But what happens if a suitable study lacks an online presence? What if they find nothing? In today’s digital age, having a dedicated clinical trial website is more than just a convenience—it’s essential.
Nearly 80 percent of internet users search online for health-related topics, including clinical trials, making it more important than ever for sponsors to provide a credible, accessible, and engaging digital touchpoint, according to research from Pew.
Benefits of a Clinical Study Website
A well-designed clinical trial website offers numerous benefits beyond a presence on the web. Here are some key advantages:
1. Enhanced Engagement
A visually appealing website will resonate with potential participants and foster an emotional connection, making the information more relatable, credible, and trustworthy, which is likely to encourage a response.
Clinical trial printed materials, such as flyers, posters, and brochures, have long been, and continue to be, staples in recruiting participants. They are easy to distribute and help promote study visibility in hospitals, clinics, advocacy groups, and through direct mail. By pairing printed recruitment materials with easy access to the study website via a QR code, you can implement a two-pronged approach to recruitment and retention. Using the QR code enables potential participants to also easily engage with the study website, thereby enhancing their overall experience.
2. Education
Effective study websites provide information in various formats to cater to and engage the diverse learning styles and age groups of potential participants. Content can include video explanations, infographics, charts, graphs, and diagrams to communicate the study’s purpose and procedures, as well as the overall importance of clinical research in advancing medical knowledge.
3. Accessibility to Information
Potential participants should have easy access to up-to-date details about the study’s purpose, eligibility criteria, and trial locations. This helps them make the initial decisions regarding whether the study might be a good fit.
4. It’s Easily Shared and Connected to Study Digital Ads
With the added benefit of being so easily shareable across digital connections and social media platforms, websites can reach a wider audience, including links to digital ads, encouraging more individuals to consider participation.
Potential study participants can easily share the clinical trial website information with their family members, friends, and doctors to help make an informed decision on whether to participate.
5. Prequalification Tools
Website features, like simple prescreeners, can streamline the process of determining study eligibility. Prescreening questions gather information on the core elements of the study protocol’s inclusion/exclusion criteria to see if the potential participant warrants further screening. These tools save valuable time for study sites and potential participants.
First Steps to Creating a Clinical Trial Website
Here are some actionable first steps to get started:
Define Your Objectives
Clarify what you want to achieve with your website. Is it primarily for participant recruitment, providing information, or building awareness about your study? Do you also want to make it a resource for referring physicians? Consider a password-protected section for physician referral information.
Choose a Domain Name
Select a domain name that reflects your study and is easy to remember. Ensure it is straightforward for potential participants to find you online. If you have a study name, it’s best to incorporate it.
Develop Compelling Content
Create content that is clear, engaging, and informative. Utilize a combination of text, images, and videos to accommodate diverse learning styles. Ensure your website design is intuitive, visually appealing, and mobile-friendly, and avoid creating a site that consists of endless paragraphs of text.
A strong and clear call to action, such as “Contact us for more information,” can significantly enhance participant engagement. Make it easy for visitors to take action.
Crafting an Effective Study Prescreener
Creating a prescreener (study prescreening tool) for your clinical trial website that’s clear, quick, and participant-friendly helps identify individuals who broadly match the study criteria, setting the stage for successful recruitment. Here are some tips:
- Use clear, concise language: Like your entire website and the rest of your study materials, aim for language that’s approachable and easy for potential participants to understand.
- Make it engaging: Use a tone that feels inviting rather than clinical. The goal is to keep users reading and completing the prescreener.
- Focus on self-reported information: Include questions about age, medical history, medications, or lifestyle factors that participants can answer accurately without clinical guidance.
- Avoid overly technical or diagnostic questions: Don’t ask for information that would require lab results, imaging, or professional evaluation at this stage.
- Clarify what happens next: Let study participants know what to expect after submitting, whether it’s a follow-up call, further eligibility screening, or a thank-you message.
The Importance of Video
Video is an effective educational tool that can significantly enhance the way your study information is conveyed to potential participants. A brief video, lasting just one to two minutes, can serve as a “living brochure” that succinctly explains the study, its purpose, and what participants can expect. This engaging format captures attention more effectively than text alone and also helps clarify any uncertainties that potential participants may have.
In today’s digital age, where attention spans are short, utilizing video as a core component of clinical study websites can significantly increase engagement and foster informed participation among potential study participants.
Spread the Word
Yes, clinical trial websites are great tools, but you have to drive people there. Promote your website through social media, email messages, and partnerships with health care organizations to reach a broader audience. Include the website name and a QR code on all of your printed materials. Even if you’ve reached a potential participant through other means, your website is an ideal support element.
The Imperial Advantage
A dedicated website for your clinical trial is not just an option—it’s a necessity. It enhances engagement, provides essential information, and builds the trust that is crucial to participant recruitment.
Imperial specializes in creating clinical trial websites, developing prescreeners, and writing and producing live-action and animated videos for patient recruitment and retention. We’d love to help with your study. Contact us now or visit our website for more information.