Clinical trial is a very essential part of the medical industry, which plays a very important role in demonstrating the efficacy and safety of a medication or treatment. However, the entire clinical research process takes somewhere around 10-12 years to complete, with only 1 out of every 10 drugs being able to reach the shelf after an FDA approval. With the costs of developing and bringing a new pharmaceutical treatment into the market is huge, and the time invested is enormous, pharmaceutical companies are increasingly looking for ways to reduce these costs and maximize their returns on investment. So today, considering this scenario, we will cover a potentially practical and feasible alternative to traditional site-based clinical studies – virtual clinical studies.
Virtual clinical studies are a relatively new method of collecting safety and efficacy data from human trial participants. This virtual concept takes complete advantage of latest technologies and online social engagement by using electronic versions of trial processes in every aspect – including recruitment, informed consent, patient counseling, and data collection. As we move through the 21st century, technological advances help us bring trials to patients instead of the traditional method where patients came to trials. However, everything has its own pros and cons; and virtual clinical studies aren’t left behind.
Benefits of virtual clinical studies
Virtual clinical studies represent a patient-centered approach to pharmaceutical research. With this technology, the clinical trial design maximizes patient eligibility and enrollment. This is because virtual clinical trials will be based on a patient’s dwelling, instead of the frequent visits required by patients to a designated research facility, as is in the case of traditional site-based trials. Thus, virtual clinical trials reduce mobility issues, which help patients feel comfortable, especially those who are elderly, incapable, or live in rural areas far away. While virtual clinical studies also require a study site and good amount of investment, they are comparatively more cost-effective as they don’t require multiple physical study sites to facilitate patient recruitment and data collection, as is the case in traditional site-based clinical trials.
Drawbacks of virtual clinical studies
In spite of the amazing benefits that come with virtual clinical studies, they do have quite some drawbacks too. First and foremost, patients recruited in such studies can only be of a younger age. This is because patients can be recruited in virtual studies through social media; and majority of people active on social media are under the age of 60. This does not mean older-aged people are not, but the main target will be those who are below that age. Secondly, sending large amounts of sensitive health data over the internet can be quite concerning, which can affect patient recruitment and retention of trial participants over the course of the study. Lastly, although there will be email and live chat, a lack of in-person support will definitely affect participation. Due to all of these reasons, virtual clinical study technology requires additional efforts to be put in to increase patient engagement.
Comparing all the pros and cons of virtual clinical studies, we can still say that if successfully used, virtual clinical study can be used as a complement to traditional procedures in the future. And, along with virtual clinical studies, has come virtual training too. Competing with the advancements in technology, many institutes have come up with online training for students who want to pursue a career in clinical research in the future, but are finding it difficult to quit their jobs and responsibilities at the moment. Avigna Clinical Research Institute is one such institute where you can the finest online clinical research courses in Bangalore taught by the best of professionals, without compromising on anything from quality to time to money. So, if you want to have a career in clinical research, it’s ACRI for you!
