New SubjectWell Peer-Reviewed Paper Shows Digital Recruitment Can Expand Inclusion in Clinical Trials and Reduce Costs

Study published in JMIR Mental Health highlights how online recruitment channels improve cost-efficiency and patient diversity in depression trials

AUSTIN, Texas, July 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SubjectWell, the leading Patient Experience Platform, announced the publication of its peer-reviewed paper in JMIR Mental Health, highlighting the company's ongoing commitment to improving the patient experience and advancing the science of clinical trial recruitment.

The paper, co-authored by experts from SubjectWell including Lisa Klein, Marija Kesić, Ann-Katrin Rueß, and Dr. Tobias Kruse along with researchers from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, including Dr. Carolin Haas, Prof. Dr. Jochen Gensichen, and Dr. Karoline Lukaschek, as well as one independent researcher, Dr. Marlene Heckl, explores how digital patient recruitment campaigns compare to traditional methods in terms of efficiency and reach for recruiting individuals experiencing depression symptoms for clinical trials. The findings highlight digital outreach as a powerful driver of improved access, greater inclusivity, faster enrollment, and the ability to connect with traditionally hard-to-reach patient populations in clinical research.

Key findings include:

Accelerated recruitment and reduced risk
SubjectWell's Patient Experience Platform, including reach through digital marketing, creative and Patient Companions, contributed 46% of the enrolled patients within just 6 months of a 19-month recruitment timeline, and thereby reduced timeline risk significantly.

Increased diversity through digital reach
Online recruitment significantly expanded access to underrepresented patient populations, surfacing individuals often considered "under-the-radar" in traditional outreach.

Cost-efficiency of video ads
Social media video advertisements were 50–70% more cost-effective than the highest-performing static image ads, highlighting the value of dynamic content in driving patient engagement.

"This study underscores the power of digital-first recruitment strategies to expand access to more diverse and representative patient populations—while improving both cost-efficiency and speed," said Fred Martin, CEO of SubjectWell. "Backed by our Patient Experience Platform—which unites global reach, custom creative, innovative technology, and services that ease the burden on patients and sites—these insights further strengthen the growing body of evidence that we can, and must, reimagine how clinical trials engage participants, especially those who have historically been the hardest to reach." 

The findings underscore SubjectWell's commitment to evidence-based, scientifically-driven innovation in patient-centricity, patient diversity, and patient recruitment. By quantifying both cost and diversity impacts, the study sets a new benchmark for how digital tools can deliver measurable improvements at scale.

"We set out to explore how digital channels could simultaneously reduce recruitment costs and facilitate access to clinical trials for depression, a condition that can be difficult to recruit for," said Lisa Klein, Director of Customer Success, Europe, at SubjectWell. "This paper provides clear evidence that digital strategies not only work—but should play a significantly larger role in patient access leading to better clinical outcomes. the future of clinical trials." 

The full article can be accessed here (open-access publication): https://hubs.ly/Q03qVZgZ0
Full reference: Haas C, Klein L, Heckl M, Kesić M, Rueß AK, Gensichen J, Lukaschek K, Kruse T, POKAL-Group. Efficient Online Recruitment of Patients With Depressive Symptoms Using Social Media: Cross-Sectional Observational Study. JMIR Ment Health 2025;12:e65920

For more information on SubjectWell's patient recruitment solutions, visit www.subjectwell.com.

About SubjectWell
SubjectWell enhances the patient journey in clinical trials to accelerate clinical outcomes. Powered by a robust patient experience platform—featuring patient-centric technology, global reach, breakthrough creative, and a suite of services to reduce site burden—SubjectWell drives intelligence and efficiency for sponsors, CROs, sites, and site networks. From protocol development through recruitment, enrollment, retention, and post-trial real-world evidence studies, SubjectWell supports the entire clinical lifecycle.

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SOURCE SubjectWell