Decentralized Clinical Trials at Home: Commentary on Caregivers’ Burden

Decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) provide the opportunity to bring interventional studies closer to participants in their homes or a suitable location closer to prospective participants, thus increasing participants’ diversity, accrual, retention, health care, and research access. However, little...

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Main Authors: Opeyemi Bolajoko PhD, Dottington Fullwood EdD, CHES, Mahin Colissa MPH, Arnold Merriweather, Callie Merriweather, Folakemi T. Odedina PhD, BPharm
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2024-11-01
Series:Cancer Control
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/10732748241305581
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author Opeyemi Bolajoko PhD
Dottington Fullwood EdD, CHES
Mahin Colissa MPH
Arnold Merriweather
Callie Merriweather
Folakemi T. Odedina PhD, BPharm
author_facet Opeyemi Bolajoko PhD
Dottington Fullwood EdD, CHES
Mahin Colissa MPH
Arnold Merriweather
Callie Merriweather
Folakemi T. Odedina PhD, BPharm
author_sort Opeyemi Bolajoko PhD
collection DOAJ
description Decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) provide the opportunity to bring interventional studies closer to participants in their homes or a suitable location closer to prospective participants, thus increasing participants’ diversity, accrual, retention, health care, and research access. However, little is known about the burden of caring for cancer patients participating in DCTs. This article describes how DCTs might affect the caregivers of cancer patients. The points discussed include how technological challenges for those without adequate digital literacy can overburden participants and their caregivers at home, as well as managing and optimizing research logistics and safe handling of samples. In addition, the shift in labor from the study personnel to the participants and their caregivers in a bid to complete several study procedures on their own can increase the care burden, especially if not well incentivized. Therefore, it is important to accumulate evidence on ways to optimize DCTs, especially in the home environment, without increasing the burden on caregivers, who will be an integral part of the study team and support the research at home.
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publishDate 2024-11-01
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series Cancer Control
spelling doaj-art-dc5c9d9d302b42e1a2f00afe186a6ba32024-12-06T02:03:20ZengSAGE PublishingCancer Control1526-23592024-11-013110.1177/10732748241305581Decentralized Clinical Trials at Home: Commentary on Caregivers’ BurdenOpeyemi Bolajoko PhDDottington Fullwood EdD, CHESMahin Colissa MPHArnold MerriweatherCallie MerriweatherFolakemi T. Odedina PhD, BPharmDecentralized clinical trials (DCTs) provide the opportunity to bring interventional studies closer to participants in their homes or a suitable location closer to prospective participants, thus increasing participants’ diversity, accrual, retention, health care, and research access. However, little is known about the burden of caring for cancer patients participating in DCTs. This article describes how DCTs might affect the caregivers of cancer patients. The points discussed include how technological challenges for those without adequate digital literacy can overburden participants and their caregivers at home, as well as managing and optimizing research logistics and safe handling of samples. In addition, the shift in labor from the study personnel to the participants and their caregivers in a bid to complete several study procedures on their own can increase the care burden, especially if not well incentivized. Therefore, it is important to accumulate evidence on ways to optimize DCTs, especially in the home environment, without increasing the burden on caregivers, who will be an integral part of the study team and support the research at home.https://doi.org/10.1177/10732748241305581
spellingShingle Opeyemi Bolajoko PhD
Dottington Fullwood EdD, CHES
Mahin Colissa MPH
Arnold Merriweather
Callie Merriweather
Folakemi T. Odedina PhD, BPharm
Decentralized Clinical Trials at Home: Commentary on Caregivers’ Burden
Cancer Control
title Decentralized Clinical Trials at Home: Commentary on Caregivers’ Burden
title_full Decentralized Clinical Trials at Home: Commentary on Caregivers’ Burden
title_fullStr Decentralized Clinical Trials at Home: Commentary on Caregivers’ Burden
title_full_unstemmed Decentralized Clinical Trials at Home: Commentary on Caregivers’ Burden
title_short Decentralized Clinical Trials at Home: Commentary on Caregivers’ Burden
title_sort decentralized clinical trials at home commentary on caregivers burden
url https://doi.org/10.1177/10732748241305581
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