Activities critical to success and growth of clinical trials networks. What is needed and how are we doing? An Australian and New Zealand perspective.
Journal
Trials
ISSN: 1745-6215
Titre abrégé: Trials
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101263253
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
04 Nov 2023
04 Nov 2023
Historique:
received:
09
12
2021
accepted:
06
10
2023
medline:
6
11
2023
pubmed:
5
11
2023
entrez:
5
11
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Clinical trial evidence underpins evidence-based medicine and the improvement of healthcare worldwide. In Australasia, a significant proportion of clinical trials are conducted by geographically dispersed and multidisciplinary clinical researchers under the auspices of Clinical Trials Networks (CTNs). These groups play an important role in contributing to evidence-based medicine, primarily by conducting investigator-initiated clinical trials. Despite their clear benefits in terms of return on investment, CTNs suffer significant challenges. We conducted surveys and focus groups with Australian and New Zealand CTNs to identifying the activities and attributes that enable CTNs to operate successfully. Based on our findings, we then conducted further surveys of Australian and New Zealand CTNs to identify the prevalence of these success factors in existing CTNs. Our focus groups identified three key themes associated with success and growth of a CTN: engaged membership, established infrastructure, and sustainability; and thirteen critical success factors: shared vision and motivation; strong leaders, governance and succession planning; an executive officer; sustainable funding for operations; effective communication; diverse representation and consumer input; transparent processes; a strong pipeline of trials; a reputable and recognised CTN brand; innovation and adaption; an effective group of network sites with a skilled workforce; embedded trials and prioritisation of research. These key themes and the relevant key areas were presented to 30 CTNs. Two factors were almost universally present in CTNs, reflecting the importance of these attributes: the presence of an executive officer, and a strong pipeline of trials. Three factors had a particularly low prevalence: sustainable funding for operations, effective communication, and embedded trials. By supporting both emerging and established CTNs to achieve critical success factors, we can improve the efficiency of CTNs to continue to contribute and expand their clinical trial activities. Particular focus needs to be on finding sustainable funding for CTNs, and raising awareness of the critical role undertaken by CTNs to improve healthcare and health outcomes.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Clinical trial evidence underpins evidence-based medicine and the improvement of healthcare worldwide. In Australasia, a significant proportion of clinical trials are conducted by geographically dispersed and multidisciplinary clinical researchers under the auspices of Clinical Trials Networks (CTNs). These groups play an important role in contributing to evidence-based medicine, primarily by conducting investigator-initiated clinical trials. Despite their clear benefits in terms of return on investment, CTNs suffer significant challenges.
METHODS
METHODS
We conducted surveys and focus groups with Australian and New Zealand CTNs to identifying the activities and attributes that enable CTNs to operate successfully. Based on our findings, we then conducted further surveys of Australian and New Zealand CTNs to identify the prevalence of these success factors in existing CTNs.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Our focus groups identified three key themes associated with success and growth of a CTN: engaged membership, established infrastructure, and sustainability; and thirteen critical success factors: shared vision and motivation; strong leaders, governance and succession planning; an executive officer; sustainable funding for operations; effective communication; diverse representation and consumer input; transparent processes; a strong pipeline of trials; a reputable and recognised CTN brand; innovation and adaption; an effective group of network sites with a skilled workforce; embedded trials and prioritisation of research. These key themes and the relevant key areas were presented to 30 CTNs. Two factors were almost universally present in CTNs, reflecting the importance of these attributes: the presence of an executive officer, and a strong pipeline of trials. Three factors had a particularly low prevalence: sustainable funding for operations, effective communication, and embedded trials.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
By supporting both emerging and established CTNs to achieve critical success factors, we can improve the efficiency of CTNs to continue to contribute and expand their clinical trial activities. Particular focus needs to be on finding sustainable funding for CTNs, and raising awareness of the critical role undertaken by CTNs to improve healthcare and health outcomes.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37925441
doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07709-y
pii: 10.1186/s13063-023-07709-y
pmc: PMC10625692
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
707Informations de copyright
© 2023. The Author(s).
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