Specialized solution

There are several different tools used for ePRO data collection, including smartphones, tablet devices, and interactive voice-response systems. Another particularly important tool is the Internet—specifically, web-based portals (e.g., CRF Health's newly launched TrialMax Web™) that enable patients to enter ePRO data via their home computer and/or smartphone, quickly and easily. Such customizable portals combine both industry and patient insights to aid retention, ensure compliance, and generate ePRO data of the highest scientific integrity by fitting into patients' lives seamlessly and taking the burden out of data entry.

While motivation is key to encouraging patient retention, information is vital to ensuring engagement. That's why these portals do more than just collect ePRO data—they also communicate vital study information. For example, a portal can house study information that participants can use to educate their families on the trial's key points, while study events timelines allow patients to better incorporate the study schedule into their lives.

Rachael King, CRF Health's CEO, said "web-based portals will change the face of ePRO data collection. Such portals will not only increase patient retention and protocol compliance, they'll also help to make the clinical study journey a little better for patients, too."

Rauha Tulkki-Wilke is VP, Product and Service Management, CRF Health, http://www.crfhealth.com/.

References

1. Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development. "Drug Developers Are Aggressively Changing the Way They Do R&D," January 2011, http://csdd.tufts.edu/news/complete_story/pr_outlook_2011/.

2. Cutting Edge Information, "US Phase IV Budgets Top $12,000 Per Patient," September 2011, http://www.cuttingedgeinfo.com/2011/phase-iv-budgets-per-patient/.

3. Pew Internet and American Life Project. "61% of American Adults Look Online for Health Information," June 2009, http://www.pewinternet.org/Press-Releases/2009/The-Social-Life-of-Health-Information.aspx.

4. R. King, "Embracing Electronic PRO," Applied Clinical Trials, EDC & Information Technology supplement, 18 (3) 6-8 (2009).