How Level Of Touch Guides Decentralized Clinical Trial Tools And Methods

By Dr. Graham Wylie, Medical Research Network (MRN)

To run clinical trials quickly, safely, and with high data integrity, it is effective to assess trials by degree of touch. Different trial types, in this respect, are suited to the application of different tools and methods in a DCT environment. The touch spectrum spans from an ultra-low-touch approach at one end to high-touch clinical trials at the other.
At the ultra-low-touch end of the spectrum are clinical trials addressing common conditions, which typically do not require a lot of physician input. The trial is relatively simple, and the drug being studied generally is well understood and orally administered. Trial endpoints usually comprise simple measurements (e.g., blood pressure, cholesterol levels).
At the high-touch end of the spectrum, trials typically deal with unwell patients who require significant healthcare professional (HCP) input. Additionally, the drug often is parenterally administered, and its safety is not well understood. Numerous physical examinations and sample collections may be required to collect the complex data fulfilling the trial’s endpoints. Many high-touch trials feature one or more of these characteristics, with some including all these challenges.