Creative Empathy

Creative |krēˈātiv|

Adjective

Relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas

Empathy |ˈempəTHē|

Noun

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another

At Artcraft Health Clinical Trials, we understand that choosing to participate in a clinical trial is not a small decision for any patient or caregiver. It’s a personal choice that could potentially have a big impact on a person's health and well-being.

As the creative team, we are dedicated to designing a campaign that not only captures the essence of a clinical trial but also engages and builds the trust of patients and caregivers. Whether it’s recruitment, retention, or compliance, we think about the patient and caregiver first.

Inviting

We reach potential trial participants with engaging graphics that complement clear, educational, and actionable messaging. The colors, fonts, images, and illustrations are chosen specifically to invite patients into the clinical trial.

In each clinical trial, we guide patients and caregivers with an understanding of what they may be going through emotionally and physically. We ensure that all aspects of the trial, including the possible benefits, risks, and requirements are explained clearly and concisely and that the participants are comfortable with them.

Supportive

We also carefully consider how to support clinical trial professionals tasked with patient recruitment and retention. We create custom solutions designed to help make their job easier and meet their study goals. Through clinical trial branding, we visually communicate their level of commitment to research and dedication to medical advancements.

Empowering

As with many clinical trials that can last for years, our materials are designed not only to attract potential participants but also to help build trust that empowers people to stay enrolled for the duration of the trial.

Artcraft Health Clinical Trials: Building Trust.

Our designs visually communicate these key messages: we understand what you are going through, you are supported and valued by your clinical trial team, and we are grateful for your time and participation.

How well do clinical trial participants understand informed consent?

Lisa Moss Calderwood, MA

Senior Medical Writer

Artcraft Health Clinical Trials

The Nuremberg Code was one of the first formal decrees for the use of informed consent for participants in clinical research. Emerging in 1947 as a form of protection for human subjects in research, the establishment of informed consent was an internationally shared ethical response to the inhumane “research” conducted by Nazi scientists. Since then, informed consent ensures that participants in clinical trials are ethically treated and informed of any risks or benefits prior to joining a research study. Volunteering is a key tenet of informed consent, as are the concepts of disclosure, understanding, competence, and consent. 

Given its historically important relevance, and that there are over 160,000 active clinical trials worldwide, it’s important to ask how well do patients really understand informed consent? For that matter, how well do they understand potential risk or the difference between research and therapeutic treatment (all of which should be explained during informed consent)?

CenterWatch, which maintains a database of global research studies, published a brochure for potential clinical trial volunteers that explains the informed consent process. It includes results of a 2009 CenterWatch survey in which 672 volunteers were asked how well they understood the possible risks before and during the trial. The responses from 28% of the volunteers indicated that they did not understand that they could encounter additional risks or discomfort during the trial. That lack of understanding can lead to anxiety, distrust of clinical research, or early withdrawal by participants from studies. 

What’s missing here? Education. At Artcraft Health Clinical Trials (AHCT), we understand informed consent is ideally an ongoing, dynamic process during a clinical trial. It doesn’t end when a patient signs a form before joining a research study, although making certain a prospective volunteer clearly understands what to expect before enrolling is paramount. 

Crafting clear, actionable, relevant, and engaging educational solutions that promote active awareness of study goals can go a long way in helping study participants understand what to expect before and during a trial. In other words, education should be a part of every clinical trial’s recruitment and retention plan. AHCT works closely with an array of clinical trial sponsors to provide learning strategies that support patient-directed adherence and knowledge. Our goal is to help site staff continually engage with the patients they enroll. That way, study teams can be confident that their patients fully understand informed consent and all the relevant aspects of their role in the research process. And that can make all the difference in the trial’s successful outcome.  

Learn more:

·         CenterWatch. Understanding the informed consent process. http://www.centerwatch.com/pdfs/informed-consent-brochure.pdf. Accessed March 31, 2014.

·         Knifed E, Lipsman N, Mason W, Bernstein . Patients’ perception of the informed consent process for neurooncology clinical trials. Neuro Oncol. 2008;10(3):348-354. http://neuro-oncology.oxfordjournals.org/content/10/3/348.full. Accessed March 27, 2014.

Artcraft Health Clinical Trials has expertise in creating patient recruitment campaigns, as well as retention and patient education strategies. Contact Brian Schaechter, Director, Business Development, Clinical Trial Markets.

Phone: 908-483-4241       e-mail: bschaechter@artcrafthealthCT.com

Artcraft Health Clinical Trials Website

Samantha Reba
Junior Writer

Artcraft Health delivers innovative custom digital solutions to facilitate clients’ needs, so it’s no surprise that when the time came to redesign the Artcraft Health Clinical Trials (AHCT) website, the project would be conceptualized and produced with the latest digital trends in the industry.

Who isn’t looking at his smart phone when they are not browsing the Web on the computer? Keeping this in mind, we have created a completely responsive website that is accessible on all digital platforms, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smart phones.

Designed for maximum readability on any platform, the newly redesigned AHCT website, which covers the range of our expertise, from clinical trials to the consumer market, is just the first step in redesigning the Artcraft Health brand image. The AHCT website incorporates brand colors and fonts, generous use of white space, and minimal text to enable visitors to easily find the information they’re looking for.

Have you seen our work? Visitors to the site will be reminded and prompted to view examples of AHCT’s award winning work and explore additional information pertaining to our, employee biographies and strategic approach.

At Artcraft Health, you won’t find outdated images and stale information. Since we focus on health education, each month, the homepage will highlight AHCT’s solutions in a specific therapeutic area.

Check out the Artcraft Health Clinical Trials website to see for yourself how digital design and content can fuse together for a truly unique viewing experience.

http://www.artcrafthealthct.com/

Brand a clinical trial—what?

Lynn Altmaier, BS, BSN, RN, MS

Content Director, Clinical Trials

With approximately 162,059 clinical trials going on throughout the world to find new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease, how do you differentiate your study from the rest? If your product is not currently in the market and you offer no promise of benefit, why would anyone want to participate in your study? And, if by chance there is interest, how do the clinical objectives of your trial translate into a meaningful experience? 

Recruitment for clinical trials can be challenging, to say the least. Approximately 86% of clinical trials in the United States are delayed because of problems with recruitment, which cost sponsors millions of dollars each day. Retention is also a challenge, since participants are always at risk of discontinuing a trial because of unmet expectations or treatment-related adverse effects, among other reasons. In view of these hurdles, it is clear that the success of a trial depends on a comprehensive and detailed recruitment and retention strategy that both engages prospective study participants and supports and educates them throughout all stages of a clinical trial. 

Effective marketing to eligible patients is particularly important, since enrollment is voluntary. It begins with a comprehensive campaign incorporating a unique logo, an engaging look and feel, and consistent key messaging, all designed to differentiate your study from other trials and establish an identity that is recognized and credible—and encourages loyalty and commitment. With this approach, your trial takes on a personality that people can identify with, react to, and act on.

In addition, you must have a dedicated, informed site staff who know your study inside and out. With sites managing multiple trials, often for the same disease state, it is essential that you have brand recognition to keep your trial top-of-mind. Providing a campaign of resources to educate healthcare providers and site staff about your study will help them in their recruitment efforts and help you meet your study objectives.

At Artcraft Health Clinical Trials, we understand the challenges of managing a clinical trial and have a team of inspiring minds who provide creative solutions to help you achieve your goals, from recruitment to retention. Our team is dedicated to educating and supporting patients, participants, families, and site staff with effective and informative multimedia initiatives that reinforce your clinical objectives and ensure your trial’s success. We work with you to create a comprehensive marketing strategy that appeals to all stakeholders and clearly communicates your study objectives in a meaningful way. We understand what motivates your target audience and customize solutions specific to their needs. We engage them with imagery and messaging that creates a sense of opportunity, hope, and connection to something greater than themselves. 

We reinforce this vision with education that explains in simple language why your study is important and how they can help. We address participants’ concerns, anxiety, and expectations in a language they can understand. Through education, we establish trust in your brand and help people connect with your study. Whether it’s calling a site to speak to a study coordinator or accessing a website for more information, we are one step closer to recruitment and meeting your trial objectives.