Survey reveals insights into physicians' perspectives on clinical trials and digitalization

27-Feb-2024 - Last updated on 28-Feb-2024 at 09:57 GMT

Last week (February 22), it was announced a recent survey conducted jointly by Climedo and Siteworks has shed light on the perspectives of more than 65 primarily European-based study physicians.

They are across diverse therapeutic areas regarding their participation in clinical trials, challenges faced, and the status of digitalization within the field.

The survey uncovered several critical factors motivating physicians to engage in trials, with 80% of them citing a significant emphasis on advancing scientific knowledge, 55% gaining early access to novel treatments, and 55% enhancing their scientific reputation.

Despite these incentives, physicians highlighted numerous challenges, 70% included substantial time commitments, 50% included difficulties in patient recruitment and retention, and another 50% included staff shortages, compounded by administrative burdens.

Anonymized benchmarking data

Remarkably, more than 85% of respondents reported employing at least one digital solution in their trials. Electronic Case Report Forms (eCRF), electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes (ePRO), and Electronic Health Records (EHR) emerged as the most prevalent and highly valued digital tools. Furthermore, 80% of physicians expressed keen interest in utilizing anonymized data for benchmarking insights and 90% included tracking patient parameters over time.

In terms of expectations from study sponsors and Contract Research Organizations (CROs), 70% of physicians prioritized fair compensation, 60% prioritized the adoption of efficient digital solutions, and 50% prioritized realistic recruiting timelines.

Veronika Schweighart, co-founder, and chief operating officer at Climedo emphasized the significance of understanding physicians' perspectives.

She said: “Aligning with their needs and expectations can foster better collaboration and drive innovation in clinical research.”

Utilizing digital solutions

Schweighart also highlighted the positive trend of physicians already utilizing digital solutions and their eagerness to further exploit digital tools for early insights.

The survey findings underscore a strong demand for fair compensation, streamlined digital technologies, reduced bureaucracy, and manageable timelines in clinical trials. The report aims to catalyze more successful collaboration among study physicians, sponsors, and CROs.

Climedo says is the leading European eCOA system for non-interventional studies, real-world evidence, and launch success. Offering an integrated eCOA and EDC solution with hybrid capabilities, the company believes it empowers clients to engage with healthcare professionals and key opinion leaders through real-time data insights and visualizations.

Founded in Munich in 2017, Climedo serves as a trusted partner for pharmaceutical companies, MedTech firms, CROs, and academia, with over 1.7 million patients enrolled to date.