Digital Tools for Efficient Clinical Trials

Learn how digital tools can be used throughout clinical trials

This four-week clinical trials course is designed to create awareness about the availability and use of digital tools for the recruitment and retention of participants within clinical trials.

You’ll explore the key tools for recruitment and retention, how they are used and their overall advantages and limitations.

Develop an understanding of what digital tools are

You’ll firstly develop an understanding of what digital tools are and how they are used within the context of clinical trials.

You’ll then evaluate examples of digital tools that have been used for recruitment and retention of participants within clinical trials.

Identify ways in which digital tools could be used to support clinical trials

You’ll then identify the ways in which digital tools can be used to support clinical trials, and will explore the evidence for the effectiveness of digital tools.

You’ll then discuss the aspects that a researcher would need to consider if they intend to use one of these tools, and identify useful further information to discover further.

Learn with clinical trial experts from the University of Southampton

Throughout the duration of the course, you’ll be under the guidance of Jacqui Nuttall, Head of Trial Management in the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, and Giorgos Dritsakis, a trial manager and lead researcher in the same unit.

The course will draw heavily on research findings from an NIHR-funded (National Institute for Health Research) project on research using technology in clinical trials. The team has an internationally-recognised reputation in understanding the development of successful clinical trials, and you’ll be able to engage with stakeholders throughout the process.

This course is primarily intended for staff in clinical trial units (CTUs), Research Design Services (RDSs), monitoring staff in the NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (NTSCC), National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) grant applicants, funding board members, referees and other professionals involved in clinical trials.

This course is primarily intended for staff in clinical trial units (CTUs), Research Design Services (RDSs), monitoring staff in the NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (NTSCC), National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) grant applicants, funding board members, referees and other professionals involved in clinical trials.

• Develop an understanding of what we mean by 'digital tools' for clinical trials
• Discuss examples of digital tools that have been used for recruitment and retention of participants in clinical trials
• Identify ways in which digital tools could be used to support clinical trials
• Evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of different tools
• Explore what a researcher might need to consider when planning to use digital tools in clinical trials
• Collect ideas on where to find useful further information
• Reflect upon how digital tools might be useful in your own context and share experiences with others
• Investigate how to evaluate digital tools as a study within a trial to build on an evidence base.