In global healthcare research, the foundations of a successful study are often laid long before the first survey is programmed.
At ekas, we understand the pressure our partners face. We know that the goal is always consistent: delivering high quality, defensible data to your clients on time and within budget. However, when working in an environment where deadlines are immediate and expectations are high, the natural desire to secure a quick green light during the feasibility stage can sometimes lead to overlooking critical details.
When managing studies across multiple markets and time zones, an oversight in the initial feasibility can create unnecessary friction later in the process. Ensuring these early estimates are grounded in realism, rather than just reach, helps protect your project timelines and maintains the high standard of research your clients expect.
1. Understanding Regional Incidence
If a feasibility estimate suggests that the Incidence Rate for a specific medical condition is identical across vastly different markets, such as Japan, Brazil, and France, it is worth a closer look.
Local healthcare systems, diagnostic pathways, and cultural attitudes toward medical research vary significantly from one region to the next. A reliable partner does not simply provide a number. They provide the local context that explains why those foundations are solid and how they arrived at that specific estimate.
2. Balancing Responsiveness and Accuracy
In global research, speed is vital, but it should be balanced with accuracy. If a partner provides a complex, multi market feasibility report within minutes without asking clarifying questions about your screening criteria, they may be relying on automated projections rather than verified capacity.
A truly professional process involves a human element: someone who understands the nuances of recruitment and can identify where a project might need a more tailored approach before it actually begins.
3. Prioritising Active Engagement
It is common for global providers to cite database sizes in the millions. However, for niche healthcare recruitment, the total number of registered users is often a vanity metric. What truly matters for the stability of your study is active engagement.
When reviewing a bid, look for the count of respondents who have actually engaged with a survey in the last six months. A partner who is transparent about reachable, active participants is far more helpful than one who relies on static registration statistics.
Five Minute Risk Audit
Next time you review a global quote, look for these three markers of a high quality feasibility assessment:
- Methodology Transparency: Does the partner distinguish between their own primary panels and sub contracted sources? Clearer sourcing typically results in better communication and more consistent data integrity.
- Regional Nuance: Has the partner accounted for local factors such as public holidays, regional medical conferences, or specific privacy regulations that might impact the recruitment pace?
- Collaborative Problem Solving: Do they offer a clear strategy for custom recruitment or alternative sourcing if a niche market reaches its natural limit during the fieldwork phase?
Reliability as a Competitive Advantage
Ultimately, the most valuable partner is not the one who agrees to every request without question. It is the one who has the expertise to identify where a market is challenging and the transparency to work with you on a solution.
In global research, being thorough during the feasibility stage is the best way to ensure high quality results at the delivery stage. This is why researchers look for partners like ekas, who provides feasibility accuracy from a local base in Australia and has access to a global panel across key markets in the Americas, Europe, and APAC.
