Therapeutic areas

Which physicians refer patients to Alzheimer's clinical trials

By TrialNotice · Updated
Neurologist in a white coat listening to an older woman and her adult daughter in a bright consultation room
Short answerMost dementia patients are first evaluated by community physicians, so Alzheimer's trial referrals come from primary care physicians, neurologists, geriatricians, and memory clinics. Research shows proximity to a research center raises referral odds, while lack of time and concern about uncomfortable procedures hold physicians back. A single education push to primary care recruited no one in one study, so outreach must be study specific and ongoing.

Who first sees patients with memory complaints?

Community physicians. Researchers surveying physicians about Alzheimer's trials note that the majority of dementia patients are first evaluated by community based physicians (PubMed). That makes primary care physicians, neurologists, geriatricians, and memory clinics the core referral network for an Alzheimer's site.

What makes a physician likely to refer?

In a survey of 370 physicians across three states, referral was predicted by close proximity to a research center, with about four times the odds, and by access to online information about diagnostic evaluation. The strongest barriers were lack of time to discuss research and concern about exposing patients to uncomfortable procedures (PubMed).

~4x
odds of referring when close to a research center
10 to 27%
of Alzheimer's patients estimated to be trial eligible

Why is Alzheimer's recruitment especially hard?

Eligibility is narrow: studies show only 10 to 27 percent of Alzheimer's patients are trial eligible, according to Grill and Galvin as cited in the national recruitment strategy. Many studies also require a study partner, such as a spouse or adult child, and some involve procedures patients see as invasive, such as lumbar puncture or brain imaging (Alzheimer's Association and NIA). Every one of these belongs in the physician summary so physicians can judge fit.

What does not work?

A study comparing recruitment approaches found an intervention aimed at primary care physicians recruited no research subjects, while a community outreach event aimed at patients and families recruited 69 (PubMed). A single round of physician education does not create referrals on its own.

What does work?

A Phase 1 unit that opened a memory clinic and engaged community physicians received 98 referrals and enrolled 16 patients in 2017, and grew its network by 30 physicians within a 20 mile radius (Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease). The pattern: local, sustained, and tied to specific studies.

What should an Alzheimer's outreach plan include?

  1. Neurologists, geriatricians, memory clinics, and primary care physicians close to the site.
  2. A one page summary covering diagnosis stage, study partner requirement, procedures, and visit schedule.
  3. Outreach to caregivers and the community alongside physicians.
  4. Ongoing follow up, and a report back on every referral.

See referral strategy by therapeutic area for other conditions.

Get your study in front of the right local physicians

TrialNotice builds a physician referral pipeline around one active study. We identify relevant local physicians within driving distance of your site, send study aligned direct mail, follow up by email and LinkedIn, track engagement with recipient level QR codes, and route warm responses into your site team's workflow.

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Sources

  1. "Predictors of physician referral for patient recruitment to Alzheimer disease clinical trials," Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders, PubMed
  2. "Comparison of recruitment efforts targeted at primary care physicians versus the community at large for participation in Alzheimer disease clinical trials," PubMed
  3. Alzheimer's Association and National Institute on Aging national recruitment strategy announcement (2018)
  4. Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease abstract on a memory clinic within a Phase 1 unit

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