Digital technologies used in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment including application to trial diversity and inclusion: A systematic review
Background Many clinical trials fail because of poor recruitment and enrollment which can directly impact the success of biomedical and clinical research outcomes. Options to leverage digital technology for improving clinical trial management are expansive, with potential benefits for improving acce...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Digital Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241242390 |
| _version_ | 1827301681385177088 |
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| author | Amy Kasahara Jennifer Mitchell Joshua Yang Raphael E. Cuomo Tiana J. McMann Tim K. Mackey |
| author_facet | Amy Kasahara Jennifer Mitchell Joshua Yang Raphael E. Cuomo Tiana J. McMann Tim K. Mackey |
| author_sort | Amy Kasahara |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Many clinical trials fail because of poor recruitment and enrollment which can directly impact the success of biomedical and clinical research outcomes. Options to leverage digital technology for improving clinical trial management are expansive, with potential benefits for improving access to clinical trials, encouraging trial diversity and inclusion, and potential cost-savings through enhanced efficiency. Objectives This systematic review has two key aims: (1) identify and describe the digital technologies applied in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment and (2) evaluate evidence of these technologies addressing the recruitment and enrollment of racial and ethnic minority groups. Methods We conducted a cross-disciplinary review of articles from PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and ACM Digital Library, published in English between January 2012 and July 2022, using MeSH terms and keywords for digital health, clinical trials, and recruitment and enrollment. Articles unrelated to technology in the recruitment/enrollment process or those discussing recruitment/enrollment without technology aspects were excluded. Results The review returned 614 results, with 21 articles (four reviews and 17 original research articles) deemed suitable for inclusion after screening and full-text review. To address the first objective, various digital technologies were identified and characterized, which included articles with more than one technology subcategory including (a) multimedia presentations (19%, n = 4); (b) mobile applications (14%, n = 3); (c) social media platforms (29%, n = 6); (d) machine learning and computer algorithms (19%, n = 4); (e) e-consenting (24%, n = 5); (f) blockchain (5%, n = 1); (g) web-based programs (24%, n = 5); and (h) virtual messaging (24%, n = 5). Additionally, subthemes, including specific diseases or conditions addressed, privacy and regulatory concerns, cost/benefit analyses, and ethnic and minority recruitment considerations, were identified and discussed. Limited research was found to support a particular technology's effectiveness in racial and ethnic minority recruitment and enrollment. Conclusion Results from this review illustrate that several types of technology are currently being explored and utilized in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment stages. However, evidence supporting the use of digital technologies is varied and requires further research and evaluation to identify the most valuable opportunities for encouraging diversity in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment practices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:31:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4e11b7df4fb24c6dbdbd106039a1680d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-2076 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:31:27Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e11b7df4fb24c6dbdbd106039a1680d2024-03-30T03:05:05ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762024-03-011010.1177/20552076241242390Digital technologies used in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment including application to trial diversity and inclusion: A systematic reviewAmy Kasahara0Jennifer Mitchell1Joshua Yang2Raphael E. Cuomo3Tiana J. McMann4Tim K. Mackey5 Department of Public Health, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA Occupational Therapy, California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA, USA Department of Public Health, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, USA Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego – School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA Global Health Program, Department of Anthropology, , San Diego, CA, USA Global Health Program, Department of Anthropology, , San Diego, CA, USABackground Many clinical trials fail because of poor recruitment and enrollment which can directly impact the success of biomedical and clinical research outcomes. Options to leverage digital technology for improving clinical trial management are expansive, with potential benefits for improving access to clinical trials, encouraging trial diversity and inclusion, and potential cost-savings through enhanced efficiency. Objectives This systematic review has two key aims: (1) identify and describe the digital technologies applied in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment and (2) evaluate evidence of these technologies addressing the recruitment and enrollment of racial and ethnic minority groups. Methods We conducted a cross-disciplinary review of articles from PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and ACM Digital Library, published in English between January 2012 and July 2022, using MeSH terms and keywords for digital health, clinical trials, and recruitment and enrollment. Articles unrelated to technology in the recruitment/enrollment process or those discussing recruitment/enrollment without technology aspects were excluded. Results The review returned 614 results, with 21 articles (four reviews and 17 original research articles) deemed suitable for inclusion after screening and full-text review. To address the first objective, various digital technologies were identified and characterized, which included articles with more than one technology subcategory including (a) multimedia presentations (19%, n = 4); (b) mobile applications (14%, n = 3); (c) social media platforms (29%, n = 6); (d) machine learning and computer algorithms (19%, n = 4); (e) e-consenting (24%, n = 5); (f) blockchain (5%, n = 1); (g) web-based programs (24%, n = 5); and (h) virtual messaging (24%, n = 5). Additionally, subthemes, including specific diseases or conditions addressed, privacy and regulatory concerns, cost/benefit analyses, and ethnic and minority recruitment considerations, were identified and discussed. Limited research was found to support a particular technology's effectiveness in racial and ethnic minority recruitment and enrollment. Conclusion Results from this review illustrate that several types of technology are currently being explored and utilized in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment stages. However, evidence supporting the use of digital technologies is varied and requires further research and evaluation to identify the most valuable opportunities for encouraging diversity in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment practices.https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241242390 |
| spellingShingle | Amy Kasahara Jennifer Mitchell Joshua Yang Raphael E. Cuomo Tiana J. McMann Tim K. Mackey Digital technologies used in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment including application to trial diversity and inclusion: A systematic review Digital Health |
| title | Digital technologies used in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment including application to trial diversity and inclusion: A systematic review |
| title_full | Digital technologies used in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment including application to trial diversity and inclusion: A systematic review |
| title_fullStr | Digital technologies used in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment including application to trial diversity and inclusion: A systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Digital technologies used in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment including application to trial diversity and inclusion: A systematic review |
| title_short | Digital technologies used in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment including application to trial diversity and inclusion: A systematic review |
| title_sort | digital technologies used in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment including application to trial diversity and inclusion a systematic review |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241242390 |
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