CTTI Examines Stakeholder Perceptions of Mobile Clinical Trials: Latest Expert Meeting Summary Now Available

The use of mobile technology holds the promise for higher quality, more efficient clinical trials, allowing remote participation in study activities, reducing patient burden, and facilitating the involvement of a more diverse population.

Critical to the widespread adoption of mobile technology in clinical trials is positive reception by key stakeholders. However, until recently, very little was known about the possible benefits and barriers perceived by investigators and trial participants. To address this issue, CTTI conducted qualitative and quantitative research to better understand perceptions, and reviewed the findings in a multi-stakeholder expert meeting (see one-page summary) that included investigators, patient partners, regulators, technology experts, sponsor representatives, and other groups.

At the meeting, experts underscored that successful adoption of mobile technology requires

rethinking how trials are designed and conducted. At the same time, they noted that many of the factors that define high-quality trial design remain the same, whether or not mobile technology is used. They also agreed on:

• The importance of involving patients early and often in trial planning and design;
• Ensuring that participants remain engaged and are able to easily communicate with site staff;
• Selecting and tailoring devices based on study design; and
• Addressing the unique concerns that stakeholders have around mobile clinical trials, including patient confidentiality, missing or inaccurate data, maintaining patient engagement, and a lack of uniformity among processes, devices, and platforms.

As a next step, the CTTI MCT Stakeholder Perceptions Project team will use the findings from this meeting to inform the development of recommendations for designing and conducting trials with mobile technology to best meet the needs of patients and sites.