Pharmafile Logo
  • - PMLiVE
  • - PMLiVE
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Communiqué 53 Cover Image

    • New report, The participation equation, uncovers key drivers of patient engagement in clinical trials

    October 16, 2025 | Participant engagement, Patient Voice, clinical trials 

    Cuttsy+Cuttsy’s new report, The participation equation, uncovers what drives patient engagement and retention in modern clinical trials through insights from over 700 participants and industry experts.

    Report fan imager

    CAMBRIDGE, UK – October 16, 2025 – Healthcare communications agency Cuttsy+Cuttsy, in collaboration with the International Society for Patient Engagement Professionals (ISPEP), today announced the release of The participation equation, a comprehensive report exploring what drives participant engagement in modern clinical trials. The research offers a fresh, 360-degree perspective by combining quantitative data from 700 clinical trial participants, alongside in-depth qualitative interviews and industry leader insights.

    The report reveals a significant shift in how people discover clinical trials, with 45% of survey respondents learning about opportunities through social media. This highlights a growing reliance on patients to find trials independently, rather than through healthcare professionals. The findings suggest that while patients are taking charge of their health decisions, more can be done to create proactive and supportive pathways to trial participation.

    The participation equation also establishes a clear link between a participant’s trial experience and their likelihood of completing that trial. The data shows that trial completion rates increase in line with positive experience scores. A key factor in this is the level of support felt from the trial healthcare team; participants who said they ‘definitely’ felt supported had a 92% trial completion rate. The report further emphasises that ongoing and empathetic human connection in combination with high-quality and supportive resources are vital for retention.

    “This report brings forward the experiences of patients who have recently participated in modern trials reflective of today’s research landscape and the growing complexity in the trials landscape” says Alexandra Charge, CEO & Co-Founder of ISPEP. “Their insights go beyond ‘what happened’ to reveal ‘why it mattered’, highlighting where trial processes supported them and where gaps remain.”

    The research provides actionable insights for the industry, by providing credible evidence sources that are aligned with participant preferences to support and improve recruitment, retention, and data quality. By understanding how participants weigh burdens against benefits and what support they truly need, sponsors can move from patient-informed trials to truly patient-ready ones. The report is a call to action for the clinical research community to operationalise patient preference into trial design and delivery.

    Download The participation equation to learn more about the evolving landscape of patient engagement and discover how to better align trial processes with patient needs.

    The full report is available to download here.

    This content was provided by Cuttsy + Cuttsy

    Company Details

    Cuttsy and Cuttsy Logo

    Cuttsy + Cuttsy

    Email
    Website

     Latest Content from  Cuttsy + Cuttsy 

    Cuttsy Cares Continues…

    Cuttsy+Cuttsy's charitable programme — Cuttsy Cares — has been running for the past 2 years, providing the team with the opportunity to support causes close to their hearts.

    B-lown away by our first CDP rating

    A catch up with Louise Jones, Cuttsy+Cuttsy's sustainability officer, on what was achieved in 2022, the agency's latest environmental assessment with CDP and a look ahead to 2023.

    Cuttsy+Cuttsy campaign takes health literacy to the North Pole

    Our 2022 Christmas campaign saw Santa’s agency elves creating tailored materials for patients. But were the examples guided by the principles of health literacy? Were they naughty or nice?

    Celebrating award-winning patient-centricity

    Every year, Cuttsy+Cuttsy choose to sponsor 'Patient Programmes' at the PM Society Digital awards. Here's why.

    Cuttsy+Cuttsy’s first EcoVadis rating comes back silver!

    Louise Jones, Sustainability Officer at Cuttsy+Cuttsy celebrates their new silver sustainability rating

    Cuttsy+Cuttsy gain highly regarded PIF Partner status

    As official PIF Partners, Cuttsy+Cuttsy will be supporting the Patient Information Forum raise awareness of the PIF TICK.

    Serious about sustainability?

    Get to know our new Sustainability Officer here at Cuttsy+Cuttsy

    Cuttsy+Cuttsy are named as one of the Best Places to Work

    Campaign Magazine have released its 2022 ranking for the best places to work and Cuttsy+Cuttsy have come in right at the top at No.3.

    Promoting trust: Cuttsy+Cuttsy become a PIF Tick accredited agency

    Cuttsy+Cuttsy join a host of noteworthy healthcare charities and institutions as one of the first healthcare communications agencies to receive the Patient Information Forum’s seal of approval – the PIF...

    Listening to heads AND hearts in healthcare

    We talk a lot about using emotions in healthcare communications, but not as much about the business intelligence(BI) behind it. Find out why it matters and why we are proud...