| THE BENEFITS OF ELECTRONIC DATA CAPTURE
The promise of information technology is being realised by
businesses around the world. This is evidenced is in the way
computing power allows tasks, and even entire processes, to be
completed whilst providing the additional benefits of improved
methodologies, higher speeds and lower costs. Now, stakeholders
of electronic data capture (EDC) are looking to achieve similar
benefits in their clinical trial processes earlier on, prior to
deploying a finished solution. Some believe the answer lies in
a more effective way of implementing EDC. They contend that
the days of expensive technology transfer, long implementation
times and resource-intensive processes are coming to an end.
As the pharmaceutical industry moves higher up the learning and
experience curves for EDC, there is less debate about the need
for, and benefits of, EDC solutions as a powerful and necessary
component in the clinical trial landscape. The discussion has
moved beyond the question of whether EDC is useful, because
these web-based systems are allowing investigators to log their
findings directly into a centralised database, delivering accurate
data in near real-time. These data may then be analysed for such
purposes as reviewing the progress of clinical trials, supporting
trial adaptation and reducing the costs of providing statisticians
with study information. EDC also helps improve efficiencies
– a benefit of great interest in drug development. |
