Patients Favor Decentralized Clinical Trials. You Can Too.

By Ben Baumann

Every two years, the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) conducts its Perceptions & Insights study — a global survey exploring how patients and the public view clinical research. Early findings from the 2025 study reveal important trends shaping the future of trial participation.

Social media is emerging as a powerful gateway to clinical research, yet trust in pharmaceutical companies still trails behind other stakeholders. Altruism remains a primary motivator, with “helping others” cited as the top reason for joining a trial. Notably, one in three participants reports receiving no compensation or reimbursement, though this varies by region. Satisfaction levels remain high, and most respondents (75%) say they would be comfortable with AI analyzing their medical data.

At OpenClinica, we view social media as a key recruitment tool and look forward to seeing how attitudes toward decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) continue to evolve in 2025.