Trends in Clinical Trial Site Selection and Patient Recruitment | Page 8
Figure 9.
Tapping Mobile Devices for Patient Recruitment
Mobile Devices
Along with social media, mobile technologies are increasingly being used
for clinical trial recruitment and retention. The use of these technologies
Tablet apps can
be used to:
Clarify processes
in trials
Administer informed
consent
D
efine words
inconsent forms
for specific studies and opt-in databases can potentially provide patients
with access to studies they would not otherwise know about.
Clinical trials have not yet capitalized on smartphones or tablets, but
these devices could be used to disseminate information to patients or
capture information from them. For example, tablet applications could
be used to clarify processes in trials, administer informed consent, and
define words in consent forms. As with social media, mobile technology
offers abundant opportunities but few current solutions. Success using
the web for education and support has been limited primarily to disease
states with strong advocacy groups.
Social Media
Other Trends Impacting Trials ยป
Increasingly, organizations are turning to social media to bolster
Among the latest industry trends impacting trials is adaptive trial
patient enrollment. This highly targeted, low-cost, flexible media
designs, which use accumulating data to decide how to modify aspects
offers opportunities to share clinical trial information with patients
of the study as it continues. Changes are planned in advance rather than
in the therapeutic area of your study. Social media enables online
on an ad hoc basis. Drug and device developers are forging partnerships
interactions between individuals who share common interests,
with site personnel rather than dictating the protocol design. The
facilitated by online networking websites such as Facebook and
flexibility of adaptive trial designs can lead to launching trials with
LinkedIn, microblogging platforms such as Twitter, video-sharing sites
fewer patients, and allows sites to participate in trial design to best adapt
like YouTube, as well as blogs, online bulletin boards and e-forums.
to their patient population and areas of expertise. Working as partners
by allowing information to be shared in a central location and getting
Social media can educate potential patients about the value of clinical
peer feedback on what is working or not working can streamline trials,
research and encourage them to participate in studies. Social media
improve protocol compliance and help achieve enrollment goals.
channels can also provide a good opportunity to spread awareness
of specific clinical trials and encourage enrollment. In many cases,
In addition, as the Affordable Care Act unrolls, the industry is optimistic
information delivered through social media reaches the family or
that more patients who cannot currently afford medical treatments and
caregivers of potential patients. But this newer media form also
lack health insurance will participate in clinical trials. Many changes
presents challenges in terms of privacy and HIPPA concerns as
are anticipated, especially relating to the standard of care, costing and
well as patient accessibility.
insurance reimbursement.
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