Honoring Patient Altruism: Empowering Clinical Trial Participants With Better Technology

By Daniela Duffett, Senior Solutions Consultant, Suvoda

Clinical trial participants make extraordinary sacrifices, often driven by altruism rather than personal benefit. A recent study found that 46% of oncology trial participants enrolled to help future patients, while only 28% joined primarily for their own treatment. This generosity underscores the ethical responsibility of sponsors, CROs, and technology providers to reduce barriers to participation. Unfortunately, fragmented trial technology—requiring multiple apps for consent, surveys, scheduling, and payments—creates unnecessary burdens, risks patient dropout, and undermines data quality.

The consequences are significant: trials terminated due to missed enrollment targets and recruitment costs. Patient attrition not only wastes financial resources but also delays the development of potentially life-saving therapies. By contrast, patient-centric technology—intuitive, unified platforms that streamline tasks such as eConsent, eCOA, IRT, and payments—can improve retention, accelerate enrollment, and enhance data accuracy. Simplifying participation honors patient altruism, improves engagement, and strengthens the quality of trial data, ultimately advancing medical innovation. Unified platforms like Suvoda’s ensure that patient contributions translate more efficiently into meaningful progress, bringing new treatments to those who need them faster.