9 advantages of virtual clinical trials
In recent years, the healthcare industry has seen a significant shift towards digitalization, and clinical trials are no exception. Virtual clinical trials, which utilize digital tools and remote monitoring, are becoming increasingly popular due to their numerous benefits over traditional clinical trials. In this article, we will explore the advantages of virtual clinical trials and why they are an excellent option for both researchers and participants.
Convenience
One of the most significant benefits of virtual clinical trials is the convenience they offer to participants. Participants can engage in the trial from the comfort of their own homes, eliminating the need for frequent visits to study sites and reducing travel-related burdens. This is especially useful for individuals who may have mobility issues or live in remote areas. Additionally, the convenience factor improves participant retention throughout the trial duration. Participants are more likely to remain engaged in the trial if they don't have to take time off work or spend hours traveling to and from study sites.
Moreover, virtual clinical trials can help reduce the burden on caregivers. They can monitor their loved ones without having to leave their homes frequently. This is particularly useful for caregivers of elderly or disabled patients who require constant monitoring.
Increased Accessibility
Virtual trials can reach a more diverse and widespread participant population. Traditional clinical trials can be limited to participants who live near study sites, but virtual trials can enroll participants from anywhere with internet access. This means that researchers can access a larger and more diverse pool of participants, including those who may have limited mobility or live in remote areas. This is essential when studying rare diseases. With a virtual trial, researchers can enroll participants from all over the world, significantly increasing the sample size.
The increased accessibility of virtual clinical trials also allows researchers to reach previously underrepresented groups. For example, individuals who live in rural areas may not have access to traditional clinical trials due to their location. By conducting virtual trials, researchers can ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in the trial. This helps to ensure that the trial results are more representative of the population as a whole.
Enhanced Recruitment and Retention
Virtual trials offer many advantages when it comes to recruitment and retention. The ability to remotely enroll participants and collect data increases the potential participant pool, leading to improved recruitment rates. This is especially true when studying rare diseases. With a virtual trial, researchers can enroll participants from all over the world, significantly increasing the sample size.
Moreover, virtual trials can help improve participant retention. Participants are more likely to remain engaged in the trial if they don't have to take time off work or spend hours traveling to and from study sites. Additionally, virtual trials can use digital tools to keep participants engaged throughout the trial duration. For example, participants can receive regular reminders about study activities, and researchers can use virtual consultations to check in with participants and answer any questions they may have.
Real-time Data Collection
Digital tools and remote monitoring allow for the collection of real-time data, providing researchers with more accurate and up-to-date insights into participants' health status and treatment outcomes. This data can be used to make more informed decisions about the trial, such as adjusting the dose of the treatment or changing the inclusion criteria.
Real-time data collection also allows researchers to identify potential adverse events more quickly. In traditional clinical trials, participants must report adverse events during their next visit to the study site. This can lead to delays in identifying adverse events and can make it challenging to determine the cause of the event. With virtual trials, participants can report adverse events in real-time, allowing researchers to identify and address them more quickly.
Faster Study Start
One of the most significant challenges in traditional clinical trials is the time it takes to start the study. The site activation process can be time-consuming, with researchers having to wait for successive site activations. This can lead to delays in recruitment and can make it challenging to meet enrollment targets.
Virtual trials can help speed up the study start process. The simplified IRB process and informed consent process reduce the time it takes to get the study up and running. Additionally, there is no need to wait for successive site activation, as participants can enroll in the study from anywhere with internet access. This means that researchers can recruit the first patient, but also the second and the next ones, much faster.
Faster Study Completion
By implementing streamlined procedures and optimizing data gathering, and query resolution, virtual trials have the potential to expedite the completion of studies. This enhanced efficiency enables researchers to achieve faster timelines for their investigations, resulting in quicker completion and widespread dissemination of valuable research findings.
Cost-effectiveness
Virtual trials can reduce costs associated with site visits, monitoring, and data collection, making them potentially more economical compared to traditional trials. Traditional clinical trials can be expensive due to the need for study sites, travel expenses, and the cost of data collection.
Virtual trials eliminate many of these costs. Participants don't have to travel to study sites, reducing travel expenses. Additionally, virtual trials can use digital tools to collect data, eliminating the need for manual data entry. This can help reduce the risk of errors and inaccuracies associated with manual data entry, enhancing the overall quality and reliability of collected data.
Improved Data Accuracy
By leveraging electronic data capture methods, virtual trials minimize errors and inaccuracies associated with manual data entry, enhancing the overall quality and reliability of collected data. This is because electronic data capture methods can automatically detect and correct errors, reducing the risk of human error.
Moreover, virtual trials can use digital tools to collect data, ensuring that data is collected in a standardized way. This makes it easier to compare data across participants and study sites. Additionally, real-time data collection allows researchers to monitor data quality continuously, making it easier to identify and correct any errors or inaccuracies.
Participant-centric Approach
Virtual trials prioritize participant convenience and engagement by utilizing digital tools, remote consultations, and virtual study visits, leading to a more participant-centric research experience. This is essential in clinical research as it ensures that participants remain engaged throughout the trial duration, increasing the likelihood of completing the trial.
Virtual trials can also help improve the overall participant experience. Participants can access study materials, such as informed consent forms and study protocols, online, making it easier to understand the study and its requirements. Additionally, virtual visits can be scheduled at a time that is convenient for the participant, reducing the need for them to take time off work or rearrange their schedule.
Conclusion
Virtual clinical trials offer numerous benefits over traditional clinical trials. They are more convenient, accessible, cost-effective, and participant-centric. Virtual trials can help improve recruitment and retention rates, reduce the time it takes to start the study, and improve data accuracy. Additionally, virtual trials can help reach underrepresented populations and increase the diversity of the study population. As digital tools continue to advance, virtual clinical trials are likely to become even more prevalent, improving the way we conduct clinical research.
References:
What is the Future of Virtual Clinical Trials? | Deloitte US : https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/blog/health-care-blog/2022/what-is-the-future-of-virtual-clinical-trials.html
Virtual Clinical Trials: Benefits and Challenges in 2021: https://trialhub.com/blog/articles/virtual-clinical-trials-benefits-and-challenges-in-2021