Internet for clinical trials: past, present, and future.

Area of Science:

• Clinical trial management
• Medical informatics
• Internet applications in healthcare

Background:

• The Internet and World Wide Web are increasingly used in managing large-scale clinical trials.
• Electronic mail and websites improve communication among trial participants.
• The Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell'Infarto miocardico acuto (GISSI) has utilized telecommunications and the Internet in recent trials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the GISSI experience with Internet and telecommunications in clinical trials.
• To outline an appropriate structure for a clinical trial website.
• To highlight the potential role of websites in future clinical trials, particularly international ones.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of telecommunications and Internet technologies in large-scale clinical trials.
• Construction of a dedicated website to disseminate trial progress information.
• Utilizing websites for study materials, news, and investigator forums.

Main Results:

• Successful use of the Internet for remote randomization, data entry, and information distribution.
• GISSI established a website to inform the medical and cardiology community about study progress.
• Websites offer potential for enhanced communication and resource sharing in clinical trials.

Conclusions:

• Clinical trial websites can significantly improve communication and information dissemination.
• Websites are valuable tools for sharing study materials, news, and facilitating investigator collaboration.
• The use of websites is particularly promising for international clinical trials.