All industries including healthcare and drug development are facing changes due to the introduction of modern technology. Clinical trials have gone through many innovative changes due to several technologies and these technologies have had a huge impact on these trials leading to many benefits.
There are a lot of ways in which modern technology has improved clinical trials and it has also been found to be beneficial for preclinical CRO in their research and development before the trial reaches the clinical phase.
In this article, we will discuss some of the ways in which technology has transformed clinical trials.
Table of Contents
1. Better Patient Recruitment
Through technologies like mobile communications, patient recruitment is much better and easier. With better network connections, clinical trials can reach remote areas and the common problems faced with patient recruitment can be solved.
Social media also plays an important role as it can be used as a medium to increase the reach of your clinical trial and recruit more participants for the trial. Some other technologies like electronic informed consent, electronic clinical outcome assessment, and electronic data capture also have an important role to play.
2. Data capturing and monitoring is much more convenient
The use of technology has made capturing and monitoring clinical data much more convenient than the traditional ways. Technologies like smartphone-based apps and wearable medical technology that has significantly improved patient data capturing.
As data forms the central part of any clinical trial, having such technology at your disposal is sure to transform the clinical trials in a better way. Technology has also been applied to speed up virtual screening process for new drug discovery.
3. Remote monitoring has become possible
During the critical times of the COVID pandemic, remote monitoring of clinical trials had become the main focus. Technologies that allow remote site access and other monitoring tools helped the researchers to carry on with clinical trials even with restrictions.
Remote monitoring also played an important role in reducing the cost of the clinical trials making them more efficient and less demanding for the participants. This has also helped in achieving a more thorough and deeper understanding of patient reactions and conditions.
4. More patient-centric trials are performed
The breakthrough of modern technologies has led to a paradigm shift in how clinical trials are performed and have led to more patient-centric trials. The trials that are carried out using digital technology have also encouraged patients to be a part and have improved the participation of patients.
Smartphone apps and other similar technologies allow the participants to handle a better part of the trial including participation, treatment administration, and follow-up with ease.
5. Virtual clinical trials have become possible
Virtual trials or decentralized trials, as they are known, have become possible due to the introduction of modern technologies. Technologies like telemedicine and mobile devices have paved the way for such trials.
Virtual trials require significant adjustments from conventional trial rules. Technology has helped a great deal to overcome challenges in such trials. This also means that participants can take part in the trial from the comfort of their homes.
Final thoughts
As discussed in the above points, it is clear that novel technologies have changed and advanced clinical trials in a lot of ways. Decentralization of trials or virtual trials that became more popular during the COVID pandemic has changed the way you look at clinical trials in many ways and have included more remote elements in such trials.
All in all, it is safe to say that adapting modern technologies can take the future of clinical trials in various directions and transform them in a way like never before.
