EDC tools have helped clinical trials progress dramatically of the last decade. EDC systems offer several advantages as compared to paper-based CRFs and are the dominant technology used in clinical trials all over the world. EDC have helped clinical trials progress of the years. The rise of EDC systems has dramatically changed the landscape of clinical trials in the last few decades.
The Development of Electronic Data Capture: From the Late 90s to Now
The late 1990s and the early 2000s saw the internet become a viable way for developers to create software applications. This led to the development of software for numerous applications but clinical trial data was still being recorded on paper forms.
The entire process, as one can imagine, was a tedious one and prone to errors. As a result, clinical trials that are now completed in months went on for years. The development of EDC in the early 2000s, however, would change everything.
EDC, at first, was designed to turn paper forms into electronic ones, sharply cutting down the time required to enter data. 2004 served as the inflection point for the widespread adoption of EDC systems. GSK moved all its clinical trials to EDC and Quintiles started using EDC and charging much less for clinical trials.
Today, it is estimated that using clinical trial software such as an EDC system can reduce the trial time by 61%. Moreover, it is estimated that reducing the trial time by half can lead to a cost reduction of up to 25%.
Why EDC Systems are the Present and the Future
In short, EDC systems are so popular because they cut down the trial period significantly and reduce costs. Moreover, they offer convenience that enables clinical researchers to focus their valuable time and energy on tasks other than filling out paper forms.
It’s easy to see why the EDC system is the present but how is it the future? Modern EDC systems such as ClinicalPURSUIT are offering advanced features that are making clinical trials even more efficient and convenient.
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