Using electronic health records to both select trial participants and track their progress could be cheaper and more effective than a traditional clinical trial structure, according to a study in Health Technology Assessment.
Researchers developed and installed a computer program at 23 participating physician practices across the U.K. The program scanned EHRs to find patients eligible for upcoming trials and allowed physicians to sign up patients with a click. Then the program monitored participating patients' records to evaluate the effects of the prescribed treatment.
Researchers also interviewed patients and physicians about the process to find mostly positive responses, though some physicians felt uncomfortable asking a patient about trial participation.
The study results led the researchers to believe EHR-based clinical trials could be used to conduct larger, more comprehensive trials with less manpower and at a lower cost.
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