Decentralized Clinical Trials: How To Balance Technology & Humanity

By Sinead Callinan, Executive Director of Delivery EMEA

Hybrid and decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) are becoming more prevalent as they can better address the constraints associated with in-person visits including: mobility, proximity to research sites and the time or cost associated with attending the clinic. Although DCTs can be more convenient than in-person trials, is there a risk of relying too much on technology at the expense of person-centered communication? Clinicians understand the effort required to maintain the right balance between leveraging technology and preserving the physician-patient relationship throughout the clinical trial participation experience. While it's critical to embed technologies to support efficient trial conduct, study design and planning needs to intentionally deploy the right solutions to support remote trial management, without overlooking the needs of the participants in their treatment journey.