The Role of Recruitment and Retention in Clinical Trials

It is evident that both recruitment and retention play critical roles in clinical trials. Recruitment and retention models are beginning to be analyzed worldwide in an effort to assess how to conduct studies more efficiently, all the while, allowing researchers to provide sound and ethical data to help advance medicine through clinical studies. Sponsors and sites have recognized that clinical trial enrollment must become more diverse and inclusive. In this review, we address the important topics of recruitment and retention in clinical trials. Specifically, the obstacles in regard to recruiting vulnerable populations. Methodologies to improve both the understanding of the study population and community engagement are outlined. In particular, newer strategies such as use of social media and more reliable strategies such as trust and relationship building are described in detail. A strong focus on recruitment is becoming widely recognized as being of such importance that consideration is given to this key component even during initial protocol development. Attention to recruitment and retention in the strategic planning process of clinical trials can mitigate enrollment issues that clinical researchers are experiencing.