SubjectWell and Reify Health Examine Patient Concerns and Safety Protocols

SubjectWell and Reify Health have announced the results from a recent survey of clinical trial health and safety protocols amidst COVID-19. The joint survey sought to understand how sites are updating protocols to better protect patients in the face of the ongoing pandemic, including both COVID-19- and non-COVID-19-related clinical trials.

SubjectWell and Reify Health polled 268 clinical trial site partners in the U.S. and found that the vast majority of these sites have implemented multiple measures in response to the continued spread of novel coronavirus. Nearly all sites (96%) reported an increase in sanitation procedures, and almost all have implemented protocols to keep infected patients at home and infected staff out of the office (91% and 93%, respectively).

An overwhelming majority of sites also reported a variety of other patient health protocols on site to ease patients' hesitations before and upon arrival at the location:

• Nearly 85% of sites offer additional phone screenings prior to in-person visits
• About 83% of sites are adjusting patient scheduling to limit the number of patients in the office at one time
• Almost 90% of sites reported an increase in personal protective equipment for in-office staff
• In-office temperature screenings are administered by 88% of responding sites

“We are in the midst of, arguably, the most challenging impediment to clinical research in recent memory, and conducting ongoing research safely is paramount. Although clinical trial awareness is at an all-time high, we must look at the inevitable increase of patients’ concerns and hesitations as well,” said Ivor Clarke, CEO, SubjectWell. “The data from our joint survey with Reify Health shows it’s critical for sites to go above and beyond to ease these concerns throughout every step of the patient recruitment and clinical trial process. As our company continues to connect thousands of patients with research sites and sponsors to clinical research, we’ll work in tandem with these sites to understand how they operate and which safety practices are being enforced, allowing us to confidently move forward in the fight against COVID-19 and treat our patients like customers, ensuring their needs are met from the moment we connect with them.”

For more of the survey’s findings, click here.​