Clinical trials are a critical part of the drug development process. Unfortunately, many organizations make common mistakes that can lead to delays or even failures of their trials. Avoiding these mistakes takes awareness, preparation, and an effective trial management process. In this blog post, we will discuss six common clinical trials management mistakes and how to avoid them.
5 Common Clinical Trial Management Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1) There is No Project Plan
Project plans are an essential component of a successful clinical trial. At its core, a project plan should include your trial:
Timeline
Budget
Task List
Data Collection Strategy
Oversight plan
Staffing plan
Timelines and task lists can help your team stay on track so that all tasks are completed on time. An agreed to data collection plan will help ensure your entire team understands the specific data points that need to be tracked.
Mistake 2) Insufficient Recruitment Plan
One of the biggest mistakes that clinical trial management teams can make is not having a solid plan for patient recruitment. Missing trial recruitment deadlines can lead to delays in enrolling patients, which can impact the overall timeline of the trial.
For even more insight into developing a recruitment plan, read our recent blog post detailing ways to increase clinical trial enrollment.
Mistake 3) Inadequate System for Patient Tracking and Communications
Another common mistake made by clinical trial management teams is not having a good system to track patient participation and communications. Without these systems, it can be challenging to keep track of each patient’s status within the trial and keep patient engagement high.
Speak with your management team and make sure they have a system to track patients. You’ll also need to ensure that they have a process and strategy for updating the system regularly. If you must rely on manual systems, investing in exceptional, experienced clinical trial project managers is a must.
Mistake 4) Overlooking Stakeholders
Clinical trials are complex. Frequently you’re juggling multiple entities (EOCs, DMCs, DSMBs, SRCs, Ad Boards, etc.), each representing multiple stakeholders. This can often lead to problems when everyone has a different idea or agenda for how to manage the trial. Stakeholder support and engagement is critical to a successful trial.
Avoid potential mishaps by having a clear and concise trial management plan that everyone can get behind. Additionally, it is essential to assign specific roles and responsibilities to each partner to help avoid confusion and ensure that everyone knows what they need to do.
Mistake 5) Failure to Invest In Project Management Tools
Project management tools can help you stay organized and on track, essential for any clinical trial. There are many different project management tools available, so find one that fits your needs.
At a minimum, look for clinical trial management tools that:
Integrate with or serve as your communications hub.
Accessible via a cloud-based platform.
Integrate with your existing tech-stack .
Can scale with your trial management needs to support multiple, simultaneous trials.
Do your homework and reach out to us. We’d love to help. The Cloud Concinnity platform not only does everything described above, it centralizes, simplifies and automates crucial information, processes and tracking that significantly impact the course of a program.
Learn more and schedule your demo here.
By avoiding these common trial management mistakes, you can help to ensure that your clinical trial is successful. If you're not sure how to avoid them, we can help. Reach out to our team of professionals today.