The Challenge
CTSI and DOCR faced the challenge of effectively promoting clinical research opportunities to a broader audience. The existing Clinical Trials Directory was not prominently featured and failed to provide clear, understandable information about the available studies, leading to low participation rates. Additionally, potential participants found it difficult to comprehend the complex eligibility criteria for the studies. The overall perception of clinical trials needed transformation from "research on you" to "participate in research to help everyone." Furthermore, the recruitment process had to be simplified to encourage engagement and participation across a diverse demographic range in the catchment area (throughout central North Carolina and southern Virginia) of Duke Health.
The Solution
DOCR and CTSI partnered with DesignHammer to address these challenges by creating a new, user-friendly website. The primary goal was to increase the visibility of clinical trials and improve recruitment by simplifying the process of engaging with studies. The new website was designed to present information in a clear and direct manner, particularly focusing on simplifying the complex eligibility criteria for potential participants. The collaboration aimed to reduce barriers to clinical research by making it easier for individuals to find and understand studies to participate in. Moreover, the new website sought to ensure that participants and their communities have access to the results of studies, facilitating a better understanding of how their involvement benefitted society.
The Results
Overall, the collaboration between CTSI, DOCR, and DesignHammer successfully transformed the recruitment process for clinical trials at Duke Health, ultimately benefiting both the research teams and the participants. DesignHammer's approach not only simplified the engagement process but also encouraged a broader audience to participate in clinical research, thereby advancing the impact of research initiatives throughout central North Carolina and southern Virginia.
