Many clinical trials cannot enroll a patient on their own. Studies in dementia, some neurological and psychiatric conditions, pediatrics and rare diseases often require a caregiver or study partner who attends visits, completes assessments and supports the participant throughout the study. In these trials, recruitment is really the recruitment of a pair, and both people need to say yes.
Why dyad recruitment is harder
- Two people, two decisions. The patient may be interested while the caregiver is unsure, or the other way around. In many families the caregiver is the person who first hears about the study and decides whether to bring it up.
- Two schedules. Caregivers are often working, caring for children, or supporting more than one family member. Visit days have to work for both people.
- Specific partner criteria. Protocols may require the partner to spend a minimum amount of time with the participant, know their daily functioning well, or commit to attending most visits.
- Caregiver burden. Adding a research commitment to an already demanding role is a real ask. If that burden is not acknowledged, interest fades quickly.
Speak to both audiences
Outreach that only addresses the patient misses half the decision. Effective campaigns create messaging for each audience: what participation could mean for the person living with the condition, and what the study will ask of the person who supports them. Caregiver-focused channels, such as support groups, caregiver communities and the healthcare professionals families already trust, are often where the first conversation starts.
Qualify the pair, not just the patient
A prescreen should confirm early that a suitable study partner exists and can meet the protocol’s requirements. Asking about partner availability, relationship and visit commitments at the start prevents late screen failures and saves families from investing time in a study that cannot work for them.
Reduce the burden from the first contact
- Explain the partner’s role clearly: which visits, how long, and what they will be asked to do.
- Offer scheduling options that fit around work and caregiving, within what the protocol allows.
- Share practical information, such as directions, parking and any IRB-approved travel support, before the first visit.
- Give both people a named contact they can reach with questions.
Retention starts at recruitment
When expectations are set honestly at the beginning, both participants know what they are agreeing to. That clarity supports retention later in the study, when visits become routine and the commitment is tested.
How Vanto can help
Vanto brings together targeted outreach, human engagement, and patient support to help move qualified participants from first contact to site handoff. If you are planning or rescuing enrollment for a study like this, tell us about your trial and we will look at where our approach can support your recruitment strategy.
