The Future of ePRO Platforms

It is tempting to imagine the use of the patient’s own mobile computing platform for collection of patient reported outcomes. This would solve some of the problems faced when using the e-PRO devices employed today:

• Provisioning costs (purchasing or leasing the devices to be used in the trial)

• Supply issues (delivering the devices to the sites for distribution to subjects, and collection after the subject completes the trial)

• Training (handling and use of the device by subjects and site staff)

• Maintenance and Help Desk (device-related help desk questions, replacement of faulty devices)

Click here for an Applied Clinical Trials article by Alan Yeomans that evaluates the practicality of such an approach, and the issues that need to be addressed if it is to succeed.