Looking to optimize your organization’s DCTs to improve research access for underrepresented communities? Here’s what our clinical electronic data capture software expert wants you to do:
Addressing challenges and assumptions in deploying DCT strategies
By paying attention to participant feedback, research teams can continue to adapt to and learn decentralized modalities as required to accommodate a variety of needs and challenges. While incorporating a home or virtual visit into a study may remove barriers like transportation time and costs, it could bring new challenges, such as consistent access to digital devices and Wi-Fi. However, there are numerous solutions to these challenges. For example, offering data plans and devices to support participants – however, some challenges need more innovative solutions.
In some areas where teams may deploy DCTs globally, they may find that certain participants don’t feel comfortable in keeping an expensive device in their homes. Consequently, they may prefer to store the device at a site, and travel to and from to attend virtual visits and log information. This wasn’t expected, suggesting that this tactic wasn’t as easier for every participant as was expected.
In addition, you shouldn’t assume what every participant will prefer. Some participants, due to the coronavirus pandemic or numerous other reasons, don’t feel comfortable with nursing and other staff in their homes. Thus, DCTs aren’t for everybody. Thus, tactics must be adjusted for every study and incorporate a number of participant options to best serve the patients.
Deploying DCTs to improve trial access
Decentralized trials increase research opportunities for those who have practical barriers to participation, may not have the means to participate in a trial or live far away from sites. Deployment of decentralized activities doesn’t need to be exhaustive or extensive to impact participants positively. Thanks to ongoing discussions with patients from different ethnic and racial groups usually underrepresented in research, research teams have learned a number of examples of how community or home-based participation opportunities have supported their experience and trial journey.
For instance, for some patients, a choice must be made between having time to join an oncology clinical trial or working to offer to finance for the family. Extended site hours and home care options can enable patients like these to participate alongside fulfilling the requirements of their daily lives.
Faced with fears of violence and discrimination, non-binary and transgender participants have also shared that home visits can create an affirming and safe space for care. Offering alternative options for participation opens the availability of research and supports the feeling that research is a place for everyone.
ClinicalPURSUIT’s EDC clinical trial data management offers a simple process to rapidly execute clinical trial data collection
ClinicalPURSUIT’s EDC software for clinical trials can perform EDC (electronic data capture) for thousands of patients.
Reach out to us now for more information on ClinicalPURSUIT – the best EDC clinical trial software!
