Key Takeaways and Learnings
- Decentralized clinical trials offer flexibility, but must be designed with intentional equity strategies to avoid widening disparities.
- Common barriers—like lack of broadband access, insufficient digital fluency, and mistrust—can be addressed through culturally relevant outreach and hybrid participation.
- Acclinate’s approach blends human connection with predictive tools like e-DICT™ and platforms like NOWINCLUDED to support representation in clinical research.
- Engagement doesn’t start with recruitment. Discover best practices for forming real community connections with our comprehensive guide.
Decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) are reshaping clinical research by offering flexibility, convenience, and the promise of broader participation. By leveraging digital tools and remote technologies, DCTs reduce the need for in-person visits and allow participants to engage from the comfort of their homes.
But as we embrace these innovations, one critical question remains: who is being left behind?
Without a thoughtful approach to equity, decentralized clinical trials risk amplifying the very disparities they aim to dismantle. Let's explore how DCTs can be designed to improve access for historically underrepresented populations, and how sponsors, CROs, and research institutions can embed equity at every step.
What Are Decentralized Clinical Trials—and Why Do They Matter?
Decentralized clinical trials use virtual tools—like telemedicine, mobile apps, wearables, and home health visits—to reduce geographic and logistical barriers to research participation. They hold incredible potential for expanding access, improving participant retention, and accelerating timelines. According to MetaStat Insight, the global DCT market is expected to grow significantly, driven by increasing demand for patient-centric approaches and real-time data collection.
Yet, while these benefits are real, they’re not evenly distributed. Many individuals in communities of color, rural areas, and underserved regions face significant hurdles that may prevent them from engaging with digital-first research opportunities. These barriers include:
- Limited broadband access
- Low digital literacy
- Language and cultural disconnects
- Historical mistrust in the healthcare system
If DCTs are to fulfill their promise, they must account for these challenges upfront and from the very start.
Building Trust Beyond Technology
At Acclinate, we believe representation in clinical research begins with trust. That can’t be built through platforms alone. It’s established through connections between real people. That’s why we take a touch-first approach, using technology like our e-DICT™ predictive analytics platform to support, not replace, community-based engagement.
Our work starts with listening. Through our health equity community, NOWINCLUDED, we provide culturally relevant information and foster two-way dialogue. This foundation allows us to guide sponsors and CROs in patient recruitment strategies in clinical trials that resonate across cultural, geographic, and generational lines.
For example, one recent study of a DCT for low back pain demonstrated that when participants had access to remote monitoring and regular support, retention improved—even among traditionally underrepresented groups. But it wasn’t just the tech that made it work—it was the combination of personalized contact, clear communication, and community relevance.
Designing DCTs with Equity in Mind
To design decentralized clinical trials that are truly inclusive, stakeholders must do more than digitize the traditional model. They must:
1. Address the Digital Divide
Some low-income and rural households lack consistent internet access or digital devices. Offering mobile-compatible tools, offline participation options, and support hotlines can reduce friction and improve accessibility. Acclinate works with partners to assess community readiness and provide guidance tailored to each population’s realities.
2. Invest in Digital Literacy
Even when tools are available, they must be usable. Sponsors should budget for onboarding, multilingual tutorials, and ongoing tech support—delivered through trusted local partners or care providers.
3. Partner with Trusted Community Organizations
Cultural barriers can’t be overcome through email alone. Acclinate helps research teams connect with communities by activating trusted messengers and existing networks in underrepresented areas. These connections are often the key to initial engagement—and lasting participation.
4. Make Data Work for People, Not Just Protocols
Using platforms like e-DICT™, Acclinate helps sponsors and CROs identify not just who might qualify for a study, but how to reach them in a way that aligns with their values and lived experiences. Predictive insights ensure the right message reaches the right person at the right time.
See Acclinate in action. Explore our case studies.
An Equity-Centered Example: Community-Driven Planning
In a national 12-month IBD initiative, Acclinate deployed its NOWINCLUDED™ community-engagement platform alongside culturally tailored strategies to better support underrepresented individuals living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The effort reached over 1.5 million individuals through education and awareness campaigns and engaged nearly 48,000 community members. Importantly, more than 11,000 individuals were offered the opportunity to participate in IBD research, and over 200 completed pre-screener assessments—demonstrating both reach and activation of historically underrepresented populations.
Combining community‑centered education, advocacy‑partner collaboration, and digital outreach, this pilot highlights how intentional, data-driven strategies can significantly enhance access and engagement in decentralized or hybrid clinical research models.
Moving from Possibility to Practice
The shift to decentralized clinical trials is not inherently inclusive, but it can be.
Sponsors and CROs have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to reimagine the clinical research experience through an equity lens. By embedding culturally relevant outreach, enabling hybrid participation options, and activating trusted voices, organizations can ensure decentralized doesn’t mean disconnected.
At Acclinate, we’re proud to be the bridge between research institutions and the communities they aim to serve. From strategic planning to participant activation, we bring human-first strategies powered by predictive technology to ensure representation is more than an objective—it’s an outcome.
Ready to see how Acclinate can help your organization advance its health equity goals? Schedule a 1:1 meeting with our team today.
