What Are Decentralized Clinical Trials?
What Are Decentralized Clinical Trials?
Traditionally, when patients want to participate in a clinical trial, they need to follow a conventional model that revolves around one central site. But with a decentralized clinical trial (DCT), patients have better and more convenient access, increasing participation and retention.
DCTs are studies executed through telemedicine and mobile/local Clinyx Care providers. The processes and incorporation of modern technologies separate DCTs from the traditional clinical trial model.
Here is a full breakdown of decentralized clinical trials and how they benefit everyone involved.
How does a decentralized clinical trial work?
Similar to your traditional clinical trial, patients gain access to medicines and treatments that’ll be used for data collection. Where a decentralized clinical trial differs from a traditional model is where the treatment administration and collection occur.
DCT services allow patients to stay in the comfort of their homes while participating.
This allows sponsors and CROs to introduce convenient and efficient methods to participants while also collecting meaningful data.
5 crucial Challenges Cases Face in Clinical Trials
Travel
These passages add up over time and produce a delicate decision for some cases. They ’re left thinking, “ Is my health worth the reverse and forth? ” To punctuate this point further, one study in the Oncologist journal showed the median one- way trip distance was over 25 long hauls.
The same study showed cases in lower income classes traveled indeed further( 58 long hauls).
Participation Costs
Cases with habitual complaint and cancer may formerly struggle with the cost of care, but these can be aggravated by traditional clinical trial participation.
Between transportation, lodging, child care, and lost stipend due to gaps in work it’s not hard to imagine why some cases do n’t subscribe up or stop showing up.
Time
Time is more than money. Outside of missing work (and wages), patients lose out on personal time. They don’t get to spend as much time at home, at school, or at family engagements. When you factor in distance and travel methods, a patient could spend a full day attending a single trial visit that only requires an hour of actual on-site participation.
Work Time Lost
Participation in clinical trials can take patients away from their work, which means lost wages. This puts a larger strain and burden on patients and is especially problematic for lower-income patients.
The Case Journey Within a DCT Model
During the trial, patients will be assigned a nurse who will conduct several aspects of the study. This gives patients a trusted face to work with. It also allows for a greater deal of trust to be built between the patient and the nurse assisting them.
Once samples are ready for collection, patients have a choice of letting a courier collect them from their homes, or they can take them to a local lab. Finally, all data is documented, reviewed, and sent to the site according to protocol.
Patient Benefits in Decentralized Clinyx Care
Convenience
Makes Participation Easier
Build Trusting Relationships
Increased Knowledge
Reduced Stress
Questionnaire completion
Post-COVID-19 Impact on Decentralized Clinical Trials
COVID-19 impacted the viability of clinical trials, suspending them due to the global pandemic. One group found that since the beginning of January 2020, about 1,000 organizations have reported a disruption. By May 2020, 1,162 trials were suspended.
Thanks to modern processes and technology, organizations can safely continue their trials with patients. Smart devices allow patients to record and send updates that make data collection easier for everyone. This data can also be collected at local Clinyx Care facilities, ensuring patients don’t have to travel long distances each time.
Research Nursing for Decentralized Clinical Trials
Our ICH-GCP-certified nurses are prepared and trained to conduct several parts of the study. With extensive experience conducting studies and caring for diverse groups of patients, nurses become an extension of the clinical trial site itself. They also provide familiarity with their patients, increasing the level of trust between patients and care providers and the quality of data collection throughout the trial.
