Mobile health technologies are transforming clinical research from a cumbersome, clinic-bound process into a seamless part of everyday life.
Imagine trying to remember exactly how many times you scratched your arm last night while you were asleep. For patients with eczema, this question isn't just curious—it's critical data that helps doctors determine how well their treatments are working.
Until recently, getting an answer meant checking into a special sleep clinic, an expensive and uncomfortable process that often yielded unreliable results.
Today, innovative clinical trials are solving this problem with wearable sensors that automatically detect scratching motions during sleep. This is just one example of how mobile health technologies—wearables, sensors, and apps—are transforming clinical research from a cumbersome, clinic-bound process into a seamless part of everyday life. These technologies are making trials more efficient while capturing rich, real-world data that was previously impossible to collect 1 4 .
Clinical trials using wearable devices
Wearable sensors market by 2032
Of trials fail to meet enrollment targets
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a shift that was already underway toward decentralized clinical trials (DCTs). These studies "bring the trial to the patient" by reducing the need for in-person site visits 1 .
"Due to the physical distancing and travel restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, with access to trial sites reduced by 80 percent, DCTs dramatically increased," notes one industry report 1 .
This shift has profound implications for diversity and inclusion in clinical research. By removing geographic and mobility barriers, decentralized trials can engage participants who were previously excluded 5 .
Traditional clinical trials provide what amounts to snapshots of health—data points collected during periodic clinic visits. Between these visits, important fluctuations and trends can go completely unnoticed.
Digital biomarkers—objective, quantifiable physiological and behavioral data collected using sensors—are changing this fundamental limitation 4 .
"The results are improved detection of subtle neurological changes in real time and earlier interventions, which are vital to improving outcomes for various neurological conditions from stroke to cognitive decline," explain researchers studying digital biomarkers in clinical trials 4 .
Atopic dermatitis (eczema) causes intense itching, particularly at night, significantly reducing patients' quality of life and sleep quality. Before digital solutions, researchers relied on patient self-reporting through sleep diaries or expensive and inconvenient sleep clinic studies.
Pfizer's decentralized trial utilized a wearable sensor specifically designed to detect scratching motions during sleep 1 . The approach was remarkably patient-centric:
Participants wore the sensors on their wrists at home, eliminating the need for overnight clinic stays.
The sensors continuously monitored arm movements throughout the night.
Specialized algorithms distinguished scratching motions from other normal sleep movements.
The system quantified scratching frequency and duration without relying on patient memory.
The trial demonstrated that wearable sensor data could provide reliable, objective measurements of scratching intensity as an indicator of eczema severity and treatment effectiveness.
Captured data in the patient's natural environment rather than an artificial clinical setting.
Provided continuous monitoring rather than single time-point assessments.
Eliminated recall bias and subjectivity from patient reporting.
Opened possibilities for digital measurement across many conditions.
| Year | Market Value (USD Billion) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 3.15 |
| 2023 | 3.55 |
| 2024 | 3.95 |
| 2025 | 4.59 |
| 2027 | 5.84 |
| 2030 | 7.89 |
| 2032 | 10.19 |
Source: Market.us Wearable Sensors Statistics 7
70% of participants live more than 2 hours from trial sites; digitization eliminates travel 1 .
AI matching connected 16 cardiac trial participants in one hour vs. 2 matches in 6 months traditionally 9 .
Continuous monitoring provides richer datasets than periodic clinic measurements 1 .
Remote participation enables inclusion of rural, mobility-impaired, and underrepresented groups 5 .
The traditional clinical trial model often placed significant burdens on participants: time off work, travel expenses, and disruption to daily life. One study found that 42% of patients declined to participate in trials specifically due to travel inconvenience 6 . Mobile health technologies are fundamentally changing this dynamic.
"There's a certain comfort and trust that comes from meeting a patient in their own space. You get a fuller picture of their environment, their routines, and what might be impacting their health."
While the potential is tremendous, researchers and technology developers still face significant challenges in realizing the full promise of mobile health in clinical trials:
Wearables and sensors must be thoroughly tested and validated for clinical use 1 .
The collection of continuous health data requires robust governance frameworks 4 .
Ensuring digital biomarker algorithms work accurately across diverse populations 4 .
The transformation of clinical trials through mobile health technologies represents more than just incremental improvement—it's a fundamental reinvention of how clinical research is conducted.
By moving data collection from the clinic to patients' everyday lives, these tools are providing richer, more accurate information while simultaneously making participation more accessible and less burdensome.
"We believe the future of precision medicine lies in the seamless integration of technology, real-world data, and compassionate, evidence-driven care."
This vision of more personalized, effective, and accessible medical research is becoming a reality—powered by the sensors on our wrists, the apps on our phones, and the innovative spirit of researchers embracing these transformative tools.