What Patients Want from Remote Trials: New Survey Data Reveals Preferences Around Usability, Trust, and Participation

Clinical trials used to revolve around the research site. Patients had to rearrange work schedules, travel long distances, and commit to hours of appointments. Today, onsite trials are still part of the picture, but they’re now one option among many. Trials are increasingly happening at home through smartphones, wearables, and virtual platforms.

Recent survey data from August 2025 show that most Americans now prefer fully remote clinical trial models. In an online poll of 200 US adults, nearly 90% said they’d be likely to join a fully remote trial, while only one-third said they’d be very likely to participate in a fully in-person trial. The findings highlight growing demand for research experiences that prioritize ease of use, clear communication, and FDA-cleared tools.

The use of decentralized clinical trial models rose sharply in 2021 as sponsors adapted to pandemic-related restrictions. While growth was driven by necessity at first, adoption has remained high in the years since. The FDA has since issued guidance supporting digital health tools in decentralized and later-phase trials so long as the tools are validated, secure, and clinically sound.

Convenience influences trial participation

More than half of the respondents had not participated in a clinical trial before, yet many expressed strong interest in remote models. Studies that rely heavily on clinic-based visits are losing ground with a population that values flexibility and digital access.

Even among hybrid models, which combine virtual components with occasional site visits, nearly 12% of respondents said they wouldn’t participate. That number climbs to 22% for fully in-person trials. Only 10% wouldn't participate in a remote trial.

Among those willing to join a remote or hybrid clinical trial, the top motivators were the potential to improve a medical condition, financial compensation, and the flexibility to participate from home.

Meanwhile, the most common reasons for opting out had less to do with safety or privacy and more to do with logistics. One-third of respondents said the time and effort required to participate in a trial would discourage them. Another 30% cited limited oversight or support in a remote setting. Just 20% were concerned about data privacy, and 17% said the lack of face-to-face interaction would be a deterrent.

What keeps participants enrolled

Once a participant joins a clinical trial, the experience itself shapes whether they stay enrolled. To stay committed to a six-month study, nearly 70% of respondents said they would need easy-to-use technology and tools. Financial compensation (56%) and regular updates from the research team (55%) also emerged as top factors. These factors ranked higher than consistent reminders and check-ins or feeling like their participation matters.

Patient adherence has long been a challenge across remote, hybrid, and onsite trials. Studies show that dropout rates in clinical trials can be as high as 30%, depending on trial length, complexity, and patient burden. That level of attrition delays research, drives up costs, and can compromise data integrity.

The survey findings reinforce that simplifying the experience improves retention. The top reason respondents said they would leave a trial early was physical discomfort from a device or procedure, selected by 68%. Unclear expectations or instructions followed at 51%, and nearly half pointed to difficulty using the technology even when support was available. Other cited factors included changes in schedule, health, or personal circumstances (45%) and a lack of updates or ongoing support (38%). Only 19% said they would exit a trial if they felt their participation wasn’t relevant or helpful.

Support builds trust in remote monitoring technology

The FDA’s 2023 guidance helped clear the path for wearable devices in clinical research. In late 2023, the agency released formal recommendations encouraging the use of digital health tools, including wearable sensors for collecting clinical data remotely. In 2024, the agency issued additional guidance outlining how decentralized elements can be integrated across trial phases.

Regulatory support has accelerated the use of remote patient monitoring (RPM) across hybrid and fully virtual studies. Researchers use RPM systems to collect and transmit clinical data from patients in real time. Wearables track metrics like heart rate and temperature without requiring in-person visits.

As wearables become a more common part of that infrastructure, adoption increasingly depends on trust. According to the survey, patients want tools that are reliable, easy to use, and backed by FDA support.

In the survey, 57% of respondents said they would feel more comfortable using a wearable if it were FDA-cleared. The same percentage said access to live tech support would help. More than half wanted a step-by-step resource guide, and nearly half preferred a video tutorial.

Trial experience must feel like modern technology

Most survey respondents expressed a preference for shorter clinical trials. Just 13% said they’d be willing to participate for more than a year. More than half said their limit would be three months or less, and 24% would commit to six months or less. The findings suggest that designing trials with shorter timelines, straightforward tools, and clear expectations could improve enrollment and retention.

Patients expect the tools used in clinical trials to feel as easy and intuitive as the technology they use every day. Every part of the trial experience, from enrollment to completion, shapes whether participants stay enrolled and engaged.

As remote trials become more common, technology vendors are essential to making research more accessible and effective. Tools must be designed for reliability, clarity, and real-time support. Whether a participant is tech-savvy or navigating a trial for the first time, the experience should feel straightforward and supportive. The right design choices can make the entire trial more effective.

Sponsors and researchers should look for technology partners that offer onboarding materials, live virtual support, and user-friendly tools, such as mobile apps and instructional videos, that make participation easier to navigate. When those elements are built into the experience from the start, participants are more likely to stay engaged, and trials are more likely to succeed.

Jiang Li, CEO of Vivalink