Imperial began as a business printer and evolved and broadened over four decades to fully support clinical studies in a million different ways. Today, printed materials are still popular. In our U.S. and U.K. facilities, our presses keep rolling, as the sponsors and CROs we work with continue to utilize the power of print for clinical studies. Here’s why.
One: Clinical study sites want print materials.
Seventy-five percent of sites utilize print recruitment materials sent to them by sponsors. I recently attended an investigator meeting where we walked through some of the print materials we designed, wrote, translated, and printed for a clinical study. This included informed consent flipcharts, parent guide books, posters, and flyers.
Site staff members approached me afterward hoping we also had pocket protocols, informed consent pocket cards, and laminated study procedure guides on key rings. These materials are easy for site personnel to carry and refer to, which promotes protocol adherence.
When I spoke to the sponsor about the feedback I was getting, they told me several sites had approached them as well, and they would like us to provide those additional materials.
Two: Print works!
For smaller studies, or studies that are taking place in emerging economies, print is an effective tool, especially for data collection. There are no bandwidth problems, no passwords, no PC system requirements, and no international electric outlet concerns.
Everyone understands how paper works and where to fill in the blanks. Despite the availability and prevalence of technology solutions, sponsors and CROs still call us every day looking for print tools.
Three: Print is tangible.
There is something intrinsically effective, perhaps even primordial, in terms of how impactful it is to hand a document to someone as part of the education process.
When talking to prospective patients about a study, handing them a brochure, fact sheet, or answers to frequently asked questions is a way to connect with them. It says we care about your knowledge and comfort level. We are giving this to you before we ask you to give anything to us.
Four: Print stands out.
Have you ever gone to a community event and talked to an exhibiting group with an empty table? People display signage and distribute brochures and flyers because it captures the eye of passersby. Words and images draw people in, encourage conversation, and allow you to give something physical to them to take away. Video screens and digital information are impactful, but you’re not likely to want someone to walk off with them.
Five: Print for clinical studies is flexible.
Print can be displayed in thousands of different formats and customized to meet every need. Here is just a handful of examples of items we regularly print for clinical trials:
- Reference materials
- Signs
- Posters
- Brochures
- Fact sheets
- Books
- Booklets
- Banners
- Manuals
- Binders
- Laminated cards
- Greeting cards
- Business cards
- Packaging
…and so on. There are many ways to bring a message to life using print.
The Imperial Advantage
Imperial is a best-in-class clinical print provider with locations in the U.S. and U.K. We provide production flexibility in support of your preferences and needs with full print, bindery, and finishing departments. Our proprietary online customer portal allows you to decide when and where to send your items, and our logistics expertise spans the globe.
Get premier printing and quality processes tailored to your trial plus unsurpassed end-to-end support. Our materials production capabilities are comprehensive, from award-winning design and content creation, layout, and translation services, to print and digital production, kitting, warehousing, and global logistics. Having one vendor provide multiple services allows tremendous control, consistency, and transparency in the flow of work and promotes efficiencies resulting in superior quality, timelines, and cost. We take care of it, so you don’t have to.
Whether your study needs printing alone or our other best-in-class support services, our subject matter experts are here to help, contact us!
Check out another of our blogs about print for clinical trials: https://www.imperialcrs.com/blog/2022/09/13/printed-clinical-trial-materials-still-pack-a-punch/