Planning Ahead: 5 Best Practices For The Integration of Wearables

By Christine Guo, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, ActiGraph

Wearable, sensor-based digital health technologies (DHTs) enable biotech and pharma teams to accelerate clinical development by continuously collecting objective, real-world data. This comprehensive data offers unique insights into patient functioning, supporting decision-making and potentially allowing studies to be completed with fewer participants. DHTs enhance patient centricity by providing measures meaningful to patients' quality of life and reducing participant burden through remote data capture. The growing trend of decentralized trials has accelerated DHT adoption, prompting the FDA and EMA to issue guidance on their use in clinical trials.

When integrating wearable-derived metrics into clinical trials, sponsors must prioritize several key considerations to fully leverage DHT benefits. Effective planning will help optimize wearable data utility, ensure data integrity, and facilitate productive interactions with payers and regulatory bodies. Here are five key considerations to help you plan ahead and maximize the value of integrating wearables into your clinical development program.