Experts Debate Moving Patient Centricity from Concept to Reality

Twitter Chat

So-called patient-centric clinical trials are key to broadening participation, most experts agree. However, it begins to get a little dicey as soon as the term is lifted off the dictionary definition page and placed in the real world. Clinical trial leaders from across the spectrum discussed the importance of getting it done right during an online chat event sponsored by Outsourcing-Pharma.com on April 9.

“Keeping the patient experience at the center of every clinical trial activity is [the philosophy] at the core of patient centricity,” said chat participant Jim Kremidas, executive director of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP). Taking the concept beyond the buzzword level, though, requires specific actions, he added. Examples: Allowing patients to give input on protocol design, sharing trial results with patients, and improving the patient experience at the trial site.

Kremidas also stressed the importance of professionalizing the clinical trial workforce by establishing standards and certifications to remove some of the variables from clinical trials. “Professionalizing the clinical trial workforce with standards and certifications could have a significant impact in speeding trials [and] making them more efficient, safer, and less expensive,” he said.

Other experts from organizations whose missions touch on patient centricity weighed in during the forum.

Participants also discussed stubborn barriers to greater patient participation in trials, including distance from facilities and lack of adequate industry education.

To view the entire thread, go to: https://twitter.com/OutsourcPharma

Author: Michael Causey