Wearable electronic gadgets have become more and more popular in the last few years, and they have made their way into the health sector as well. Wearables that collect patient’s data are now available to clinical researchers conducting clinical trials, and there are many benefits coming with this digital shift.
In this short guide, we explain what wearable devices for clinical trials are and how they can improve patient and clinician’s experiences. We also give some advice on how to select the right devices for your trial. Save this article for future reference and share it with someone who might be interested in the subject.
What are Wearable Devices?
A general definition for wearables is a digital device which can be “worn” like an accessory or that it requires less active usage than traditional gadgets, as they are programmed to perform tasks automatically. In the health sector, wearable devices can take many forms, such as watches that monitor various kinds of vital signs and microsensors which can be attached to the person’s clothing.
Mobile apps can also be classified as wearable devices, as nowadays smartphones are always in people’s pockets or hands, making them powerful tools to collect real-time, instant data. They not only can be used to collect objective information such as level of physical activity, but also more subjective information given by the patients themselves.
Implantable devices are less popular but are also considered “wearables” and are used in clinical trials. Of all kinds of devices, those are the ones who require less work from patients, as they are pre-configured and managed by the clinicians in charge.
Wearable devices can be used to collect various kinds of health-related data: heart rate, blood pressure, sleep quality, glucose levels, among others. They can also track how the patient feels throughout their regular routine, based on how they respond to frequent symptoms questionnaires.
How Wearables are Enhancing Clinical Trials ?
When it comes to adopting a patient-centric approach to clinical trials, wearable devices are, if not essential, highly recommended. After all, reducing the amount of work that is required from patients is an intrinsic characteristic of wearables. However, using these kinds of devices is not only beneficial for patients, but it also enhances the whole clinical trial experience, as we can see in this list of benefits:
- Patients can follow their normal routines without being disrupted by any of the trial’s activities
- Drop-out rates are low because the burden on patients is reduced, improving the quality of the trial outcomes
- Travel and time commitments are reduced for both patients and researchers, as less in-person meetings are needed
- Essential data can be measured more accurately, since wearables can do that intermittently
- Real time data provided by wearable devices also allow for a longitudinal review of the patient’s health status, which is preferable to “time-stamped” data
How to Choose the Right Wearable Device
Choosing the right wearable device to conduct decentralized clinical trial can be a challenge. We recommend considering the following points, before making your decision :
- Your target population. Some groups of patients might not be familiar with certain kinds of devices or find the technology difficult to include in their routine
- Data security. Make sure the system in place is robust enough and that it is compliant with regulations (it might depend on the country where you are operating)
- Customer support. In case you need technical or consumer support, is it readily available?
Summary
- Wearables are digital devices which can be “worn” like an accessory or that requires less active usage than traditional gadgets
- Wearable devices can take many forms, such as watches that monitor various kinds of vital signs and microsensors which can be attached to the person’s clothing
- Mobile apps and implantable devices can also be classified as wearable devices
- Using these kinds of devices is not only beneficial for patients, but it also enhances the whole clinical trial experience
- Some benefits are: patients can follow their normal routine; drop-out rates are reduced, travel and time commitments are reduced, essential data can be measured more accurately, and they allow for a longitudinal review of the patient’s health status
