Virtual clinical trials eliminate the need to travel to trial sites. They are more comfortable and safer for most patients who prefer to receive treatment from the comfort of their come. The Veristat virtual clinical trial design is patient-centric and gives much reprieve to patients with mobility issues. Virtual trial planning allows access to more trial staff and patients. It also allows increased engagement from patients, which increases patient retention. Here are some patient engagement benefits of a virtual clinical trial.
Low costs
Effective virtual clinical trial planning often saves on costs since most staff are based on a single site. A reduced number of operational sites reduces the operational costs significantly. Patient engagement through decentralized trials also comes with efficient data collection and streamlined access to information. Telemedicine has also led to reduced overhead costs in trial sites. Virtual trials reduce the overall trial cost by having shorter enrollment periods, reduced investigator fees, reduced trial drop-out rate, reduced on-site management, and reduced trial drop-out rate.
Improved data collection
Virtual trials also allow improved data collection. As virtual trials become more popular and patient engagement increases, there need for effective data management increases. There is, however, an increasing concern for a clinical research organization about the lack of technical expertise when it comes to data handling. There is a need to understand how best to take advantage of all the data researchers have access to during virtual trials. Virtual trials also experience faster timelines, better patient safety reviews, and new measures and endpoints. Improved data collection leads to better insights and better action from the study.
Patient retention
Virtual trials are more patient-centric than traditional clinical trials. They reduce the traveling time and cost, which most patients love. They are also safer and offer greater access for patients to receive treatments. A higher patient retention rate increases the chances of a successful clinical trial. It gives researchers a chance to access a more diverse patient population. Virtual trials offer a great avenue to narrow the gap in the under-representation of minority groups in clinical trials. The idea is to improve the eligibility criteria. Virtual trials easily lift the limitations provided by logistics and the generalized burden of participation by making the trials more available.
Relieves pressure from physical trial sites
Virtual trials relieve the burden of late-phase studies. Conduction trials from the comfort of the patient’s home guarantee trial compliance and retention. However, it is important to note that traditional site base trials are required for some studies, so clinical research organizations can opt for the hybrid approach to maximize the benefits of a virtual trial. Virtual trials only require sponsors and technology vendors to partner to ensure easy use of the technology and accurate compilation of patient data. Data-driven patient monitoring tools are working better than anticipated in terms of flexibility and continuity.
Virtual clinical trials become popular after the pandemic. While they are centered around patient engagement, they also help reduce the overall cost of the trial, improve data capture and enhance trial continuity.
