Before COVID, the 1960s measles vaccine was the fastest-developed vaccine. When COVID hit, medical researchers developed a vaccine at lightning speed. Clinical trials in Alabama and other states were crucial to getting this vaccine set.
Even before and after COVID, clinical trials were one of the most important types of medical research. As technology advances, so make medical experts’ approaches to clinical trials.
Read on to learn about some of the latest clinical trial advances.
Using Home Visits Rather Than Clinic Visits
It can be difficult for people to find spare time in today’s busy world. How can they stop at their local clinic when they need to pick up kids and make dinner for the family?
On top of that, Americans are one of the longest-working populations in the world. By the latest measurement, Americans work an average of 1,791 hours per year. That’s 34.4 hours a week!
Medical experts are looking for flexible ways around this barrier. One possibility is to offer patients the option of clinic home visits. Not all patients are up for the idea, but many said they’d choose this option.
Using Virtual Technologies to Gather Data
Using technologies such as sensors, wearables, and electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) devices in clinical trials is also possible. These could eliminate the need for home or clinic visits. This situation would be highly convenient for clinical trial participants.
In addition, this approach could help keep some trial participants and clinicians safer. In many cases, clinicians can put themselves in danger by entering a person’s home. Patients can also put others in danger by leaving their homes.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration supports this idea. Their Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative is helping the development of these technologies in clinical trials.
Using Social Media to Recruit Clinical Trial Participants
As of January 2023, more than half of the world’s population uses social media. If medical experts want to inform thousands of people of a clinical trial in Alabama or other cities, social media is the place to do it.
Unfortunately, there’s one snag in this plan. Medical researchers can only reach some people via the internet. Many communities still need this utility.
Clinical trials need to use a subject group that’s as diverse as possible. This can undermine the effectiveness of tests. Therefore, researchers may still need to find ways to reach these communities through non-digital means.
Participate in Clinical Trials in Alabama
Advances in clinical trials in Alabama and other states help everyone. With more efficient clinical trials, we’ll get new drugs and procedures faster. As a result, everyone around the world can become healthier.