Major causes of high attrition rate in clinical trials: Critical review and latest developments

Abstract

The biggest obstacle in clinical trials is still participant attrition or dropout, which has an impact on study reliability and results. The main causes of participant withdrawal were covered in this review, including poor communication, convoluted procedures, time or money constraints, and a lack of drive. New, contemporary strategies have been employed to address these issues, including patient engagement initiatives, digital and community-based recruitment, and the application of wearable technology and artificial intelligence. Patients can now participate in trials more easily thanks to mobile health apps and remote participation, and their trust and understanding have grown as a result of patient advisory boards and educational initiatives. The goal of all these efforts is to reduce attrition, improve participant experience, and make trial outputs more reliable.