Decentralised clinical trials (DCTs) are changing the way clinical research is conducted and revolutionising the healthcare industry. DCTs enable patients to participate in clinical trials from their own homes, using telehealth and other technologies to collect data remotely. This approach offers several advantages over traditional clinical trials, including increased patient recruitment and retention, improved data quality, and reduced costs.

One of the significant benefits of DCTs is their ability to reduce the dropout rate among study participants. In regular clinical trials, a dropout rate of approximately 60% is often observed due to various factors such as poor health, inconvenience, and the need to travel. However, DCTs have reduced this rate significantly to about 30%, indicating that patients are more likely to stay enrolled in clinical trials when they can participate from the comfort of their own homes.

Additionally, poor health often contributes to the high dropout rates observed in regular clinical trials. However, with DCTs, patients can participate in clinical trials while receiving care from their physicians. This approach helps to mitigate the impact of poor health on patient enrollment and retention, making it easier for patients to remain in the study.

DCTs also have the potential to improve patient recruitment by offering a more convenient and flexible approach to clinical research. Traditional clinical trials require patients to travel to a physical location for study visits, which can be time-consuming and expensive. However, with DCTs, patients can participate in clinical trials from anywhere in the world, reducing the cost and time associated with patient recruitment.

Another significant benefit of DCTs is their ability to improve data quality. Remote monitoring technologies enable researchers to collect data in real-time, providing a more comprehensive and accurate view of patients’ health status. This approach helps to reduce the risk of errors and ensures that study results are more reliable and actionable.

Finally, DCTs can reduce the costs associated with clinical trials. Traditional clinical trials are often expensive due to the need for physical study sites, equipment, and staffing. However, DCTs require fewer resources, making them more cost-effective and accessible.

DCTs are revolutionising the healthcare industry by offering a more patient-centric, convenient, and cost-effective approach to clinical research. With the ability to improve patient recruitment and retention, data quality, and reduce costs, DCTs have the potential to accelerate the drug development process and bring new treatments to market more quickly. In order to learn more about how DCTs are changing the way clinical trials are being made, be sure to read our in-depth article at HealthNewsTribute.