Beyond EDC: Resolving Data-Entry Challenges Faced By Electronic Data Capture Systems In Clinical Trials

Electronic Data Capture (EDC) systems have swept the Clinical Trials industry in recent years, promising to transform the drug development process. Most EDC systems are browser based and many operate on a Software as a Service (SaaS) model, with remote hosting capabilities. It is estimated that nearly half or more clinical trials today are run partially or fully on EDC systems, eliminating paperwork and other inefficiencies in the process.

However, interim reports from a recent survey conducted by the eClinical Forum (“Investigational Site Perspectives on Clinical Trial Information Systems,”) show that the use of paper case report forms (CRFs) is rising, even as EDC adoption is increasing. According to a Clinpage report, clinical trial site staffs believe that EDC system use is forcing them to spend more time working on trial data, not less. According to the survey, 46% of respondents reported having to do more work due to EDC, compared to 23% 8 years ago.