If you've ever looked into joining a clinical trial, you probably ran into a wall of logistics. Research site visits. Hours in waiting rooms. Missed work, coordinating childcare, or even booking overnight stays—to attend one appointment. For many patients, these burdens complicate participation, and in many cases, stop it altogether.
That’s a serious problem. When trials are hard to access, fewer people enroll. Even worse, the people who do make it often don’t accurately reflect the diversity of the wider patient population. This limits how useful the results are for real-world patients—especially in rare disease research, where every participant counts.
Fortunately, clinical trials no longer have to happen inside a hospital. At-home clinical trials (also known as decentralized or virtual trials) flip the model. You can now participate in studies from the comfort of your home using telehealth visits, wearable devices, and medication delivered straight to your door. The entire experience is designed to reduce burden, improve access, and empower more people to get involved in medical research. If you’re considering taking part in an at-home clinical trial, then this guide will help you know what to expect.
Traditional clinical trials often meant repeated trips to hospitals or research centers for screenings, checkups, and medication doses. Decentralized trials eliminate that need by bringing the study to you. Think of it like the difference between going out to the movies versus streaming a premiere at home on Netflix – the content is the same, but the experience is far more convenient and on your schedule.
You’ll connect with your research study team through secure video calls, use wearable devices to track your health, and receive medications at your doorstep. Some studies may also send a healthcare provider to your home for tests or procedures that can’t be done remotely.
Virtual clinical trials use telehealth, mobile apps, and home delivery services to handle every aspect of participation. The goal is to make trials more accessible and more convenient, while still providing quality care for participants.
Patients who participate from home are more likely to remain in the study. That leads to stronger data for researchers and a more comfortable experience for the patient.
Here’s what the process looks like, step by step.
Your journey begins with a virtual screening conducted through a secure video call or telephone. The clinical team reviews your medical history, medications, and health status. If additional tests, like blood draws, are necessary, they can usually be done locally or with a home-based kit.
Consent is managed through eConsent, where you digitally sign documents after reviewing and discussing the details virtually. This ensures you clearly understand the trial’s procedures, potential risks, and benefits—right from your living room.
One significant advantage of decentralized trials is continuous health monitoring using wearable devices. You might use a smartwatch, fitness tracker, or other wearable tech to capture vital data, such as heart rate, activity levels, or sleep patterns. These devices collect and securely transmit data directly to researchers, providing accurate real-time insights into your health without frequent hospital visits.
Regular check-ups are conducted via telehealth video calls, allowing face-to-face interactions with the clinical team from the comfort of your couch. These virtual visits cover your symptoms, medication use, and any questions or concerns you might have.
A healthcare professional may pay you a home visit for procedures needing physical intervention (e.g., injections, blood tests). This flexibility significantly reduces your need to travel, making trial participation manageable and stress-free.
Clinical trial medications are delivered directly to your doorstep in secure, temperature-controlled packages. Clear instructions accompany these shipments, and the clinical team provides thorough guidance on storage and administration. You’ll manage medication use through provided apps or daily electronic logs, maintaining clear communication with researchers throughout your participation.
At-home trials adapt to your routine instead of disrupting it. You can schedule telehealth visits around work, family, or personal needs—without spending hours in traffic or sitting in a waiting room. Medications arrive at your doorstep, and data collection happens passively through wearables or simple mobile check-ins. This flexibility reduces stress and makes it easier to stay engaged from start to finish.
Remote models speed up recruitment and reduce the need for brick-and-mortar sites. Fewer delays mean studies can launch and complete faster. Sponsors also cut costs on logistics and infrastructure, freeing up resources for more trials and broader patient reach.
Wearable devices and digital apps capture data continuously in real time. Instead of snapshots during clinic visits, researchers gain a fuller picture of how treatments work in everyday life. This leads to more meaningful insights and better outcomes for future patients.
Decentralized trials open the door to participants who would otherwise be excluded—those living in rural areas, managing disabilities, or balancing complex schedules. Expanding access brings in more diverse populations, which improves the accuracy and generalizability of trial results.
Participating from home saves time, reduces stress, and helps ensure consistent participation. Studies show that decentralized trials lead to higher patient retention than traditional models because they fit seamlessly into daily life.
Not at all. Trials provide user-friendly technology, clear instructions, and ongoing support. You’ll have help setting up devices and accessing telehealth visits.
Yes. At-home trials adhere to strict federal regulations to ensure patient safety and data security. Data transmitted from wearable devices or telehealth visits are encrypted and confidential.
Science 37 and other institutions offer paid clinical trials from home. This means you’ll be compensated for your time and participation, similar to traditional clinical studies. Details vary by study and will be clearly explained during your consent process.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated the adoption of remote clinical trials. Decentralised methods were quickly adopted to maintain essential research while ensuring participant safety. This shift has proven highly effective and is becoming a standard approach, offering lasting patient recruitment and retention benefits.
Science 37 is a pioneer in decentralized clinical research, dedicated to making clinical trials more accessible. Our model streamlines participation, using advanced technologies and patient-centric approaches to deliver quality data and an outstanding patient experience.
Joining Science 37 clinical trials means contributing meaningfully to critical medical advancements without compromising your daily routine.
If you’re considering participation, this flexible, secure, and convenient method ensures you remain central to the research without added stress. To discover active opportunities tailored for rare diseases, visit Science 37’s active clinical trials page. Here, you can find trials suited to your needs and start your clinical research journey from home today.
