Tech Trends In Clinical Research: 5 Things To Know

Clinical research is crucial in healthcare as it promotes medical knowledge and treatment advancement. It allows researchers to gather data and evidence that inform the development of new medications, therapies, and other medical interventions, ultimately improving understanding of diseases and overall health.  

One crucial aspect of clinical research is compliance with CDISC or the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium. It’s a global, non-profit organization that develops and maintains data standards to facilitate the exchange and analysis of clinical research data. By following CDISC standards, researchers ensure that their data is consistent, accurate, and easily accessible to others in the scientific community.  

Technology Trends in Clinical Research

In recent years, technology has played a significant role in improving clinical research. Researchers can more accurately and efficiently collect and analyze data by leveraging technological advances. It allows for faster progress, better patient care, and the potential to identify and address emerging health issues quickly.  

That said, read on to learn the top technology trends in clinical research.  

1. Electronic Health Records  

Electronic health records (EHRs) are digital versions of a patient’s medical history used to store and track health information. They contain a wide range of data, including personal and family medical history, diagnoses, treatments, and other medical information. 

Besides healthcare providers using EHRs to manage patient care, these digital records can be accessed by authorized individuals, such as researchers, for clinical research purposes too.  

One significant advantage of using EHRs in clinical research is the speed and accuracy of data collection. EHRs allow for faster data entry and easier access to patient records, significantly reducing the time and effort required to gather data. Moreover, EHRs are more accurate than traditional paper records, as they’re less prone to errors and can be easily updated with new information.  

EHRs have the potential to improve patient care by providing healthcare providers with a comprehensive view of a patient’s medical history. It can help identify potential issues or concerns that may not have been apparent otherwise and allow for better care coordination between different healthcare providers.  

2. Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning  

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the ability of machines to mimic human intelligence and perform tasks that’d generally require human-like skills, such as learning and problem-solving. Machine learning is a subset of AI that uses algorithms to analyze and interpret data, learn from it, and make predictions or decisions based on that data.  

In clinical research, AI and machine learning algorithms are used to analyze and interpret large amounts of data like electronic health records and clinical trial data. It can help researchers to identify patterns and trends that may not be apparent to the human eye and allow for more accurate prediction of outcomes.  

Notably, AI and machine learning algorithms can identify potential drug targets or predict the likelihood of a patient responding to a particular treatment.  

Read Also: How Does Technology Help Nonprofits to Flourish More?

3. Virtual Trials 

Virtual clinical trials, also known as remote clinical trials, are a type of clinical research that allows patients to participate remotely rather than in person at a clinical site. It’s typically done through video conferencing and wearable devices, which enable researchers to collect data and communicate with patients remotely.  

One significant benefit of virtual clinical trials is that they allow patients to participate in clinical research without physically traveling to a clinical site. It can be especially beneficial for patients who may have mobility issues, live far from a clinical research facility, or can’t travel due to health concerns like a pandemic.  

In addition, virtual clinical trials can be more cost-effective and efficient, as they eliminate the need for travel and other expenses associated with in-person clinical trials.  

4. Blockchain Technology  

Blockchain technology is a decentralized system that allows for the secure storage and tracking of data. It creates a network of computers, referred to as ‘nodes,’ containing a copy of the stored and tracked data. Through the use of advanced cryptography, the data is maintained in a manner that ensures its accuracy and prevents tampering.  

Blockchain technology is used in clinical research to securely store and track data, such as electronic health records and clinical trial data. With this technology, researchers can ensure that their data is accurate and can’t be altered. Consequently, it improves the reliability and integrity of research results.  

In addition to improving the reliability of research data, the use of blockchain technology in clinical research has the potential to improve efficiency and speed. By allowing secure, decentralized data storage, researchers can more easily share data with other researchers and healthcare providers. It facilitates faster progress and better patient care.  

5. Mobile Health Apps

Mobile health apps or mHealth apps are smartphone and tablet applications designed to track and manage various aspects of a person’s health.  

In clinical research, researchers can use mHealth apps to collect real-time patient health and behavior data, which can help them better understand the effectiveness of different treatments and interventions. Case in point, they might use a mHealth app to track the activity levels and sleep patterns of a patient with diabetes, allowing them to study the impact of different lifestyle interventions on their health. 

One notable benefit of mHealth apps is their accessibility and convenience. Many people already use their smartphones and tablets to track various aspects of their health, and mHealth apps allow them to collect and share this data with researchers easily.  

And mHealth apps can monitor patients remotely, which can be especially useful for those with chronic conditions or who live in areas with limited access to healthcare. 

Conclusion  

All in all, researchers and healthcare professionals must stay up-to-date on these technological trends to best utilize cutting-edge clinical research tools and advance the field of medicine. And by leveraging the technological trends above, they can more accurately and efficiently collect and analyze data, improve patient care, and advance their understanding of diseases and treatments.