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In our modern age of medical innovation, doctors and scientists are constantly refining and streamlining our approach to healthcare.
One crucial element of this approach is clinical trials. However, in recent years, a new form of clinical trial has become popular – direct-to-patient clinical trials.
What is a DTP clinical trial? What are the pros and cons? What else should you know?
Let’s find out.
What Are Direct-To-Patient Clinical Trials?
DTP trials were developed when traditional, localized clinical trials were no longer able to keep up with the modern landscape and scope needed. Direct to Patient trials allow clinical trials to be conducted – well, directly at the patient’s site.
The trial materials (new drugs, etc) are delivered to the patient’s location, maybe even at their home, allowing the patient to test out the product at a safe and comfortable location. Wearable electronics allow the patients to be monitored remotely.
The Pros
There are plenty of pros to DTP trials, including:
- A comfortable and relaxed location for the patient
- Easy remote monitoring and enrolling, allowing a greater reach of trial subjects
- The elimination of trial sites, allowing more freedom and versatility for both the patients and the medical staff
- Increased inventory control
- A more modern solution to modern medical issues
Finally, DTP trials seem to be the future. More and more medical programs are using this technique, and many other programs are joining in. With DTP trials becoming mainstream, the traditional trial site tests are quickly becoming obsolete.
The Cons
Of course, there are some issues connected with DTP trials. Like any clinical trial, it’s important to preserve the integrity of the trial and the safety of the patients. Here are some cons of DTP trials:
- DTP trials require a healthy medical system (no pun intended) to afford the time, effort, and even money connected to testing patients at home
- Strict time regulations are enforced to make sure the trial drugs arrive at the patient’s location in good time
- Products may get damaged en-route to the patient, becoming unusable, and replacements may be expensive
- Patients may still need to be supervised by medical staff during their trial
Let’s be clear – direct-to-patient clinical trials are not necessarily the easier or even the cheaper option. However, the evidence so far indicates that they are the more effective option.
Are Direct-To-Patient Clinical Trials Here to Stay?
Simply put, yes. Direct to patient clinical trials are rapidly becoming the norm due to the increased flexibility they offer. A DTP trial allows both patients and medical staff to enjoy a versatile schedule, remote treatment, and remote checkups, as well as allowing both parties to stay neatly within the regulations required in any clinical trial.
Aside from some obvious cons, such as the danger of a product being damaged in transit, DTP trials are a much more effective way of handling clinical trials. Modern medical equipment allows for remote patient monitoring, and – something crucial in our day and age – this system allows for a greater range and diversity of test patients.
