Transportation innovation to aid Parkinson disease trial recruitment

Abstract

Among the barriers to participation in clinical trials, transportation to and from study sites may be a prominent issue. Patients with Parkinson's disease have unique circumstances that add to the barriers including dementia, loss of driving ability, timing of medications, impact of reduced mobility, and bowel and bladder concerns. We sought to alleviate some of the burden of transportation by setting up pre-arranged rides through a third-party ride sharing service. This pilot project was established to assess feasibility and to explore the possibility that reducing the transportation burden may enhance participation in studies. One out of three academic sites was successful in setting up this service, and surveyed participants on the impact of this service. In general, study participants who opted into the ride-sharing service felt it made the process easier and less stressful. Most participants agreed that they are more likely to participate in another study if transportation was provided. This short-term pilot intervention suggests that participants were satisfied with a ride sharing service to help with their medical transportation needs, but larger studies that include data collection about retention are needed. Keywords: Parkinson disease, Recruitment tools, Ride-sharing, Transportation