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SCOUT CLINICAL | CASE STUDY

Coordinating Participant Support in Oncology Trials with Cachexia-Related Burden

Supporting participants experiencing fatigue, weight loss, and reduced mobility across complex oncology protocols

Background

Cancer cachexia and related symptoms, including fatigue, weakness, and unintentional weight loss, are common in advanced oncology populations. These factors limit mobility and increase the risk of attrition.

Repeated visits add cumulative physical and logistical burden, making sustained participation difficult without ongoing coordination. 

Scope

Scout supported participant engagement across oncology studies involving individuals experiencing cachexia-related symptoms and functional limitations.

Support included coordination of transportation, reimbursements, and visit logistics across multiple study visits, with adjustments made over time to accommodate changing participant needs and maintain adherence to protocol requirements. 

Challenges

  • Severe fatigue and reduced mobility
  • Progressive symptom burden
  • High risk of early withdrawal
  • Need for caregiver assistance
  • Repeated visits increasing cumulative burden

Scout's Approach

Scout provided a scope of services to include:

Travel coordination: Arranged transportation for participants with limited mobility.

Caregiver coordination: Facilitated approved caregiver involvement.

Visit logistics management: Managed travel, reimbursements, and scheduling across visits.

Participant navigation: Provided ongoing coordination and guidance.

Issue escalation: Handled approvals and adjustments to maintain continuity. 

Specialized Solutions

Support was tailored to each participant’s condition, with logistics coordinated to account for reduced mobility, fatigue, and the need for caregiver involvement. Services were delivered consistently across visits to reduce the cumulative burden that can lead to missed visits or withdrawal.

Ongoing coordination and direct management of logistical needs allowed participants to remain focused on their care while maintaining study participation across demanding protocols.

Across Scout-supported oncology studies, retention reached 82.3%, representing a +13.9 percentage point improvement over non-Scout sites, with a 44% reduction in participant discontinuations and participants 21% more likely to complete their studies.