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Radiotherapy Trial Set-up in the UK: Identifying Inefficiencies and Potential Solutions
C R Hanna1, D M Lynskey2, J Wadsley3
1CRUK Clinical Trials Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Clinical Oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))
|November 6, 2019
Summary
Inefficiencies in UK radiotherapy trial setup are common, with a median setup time of 600 days. Key barriers include limited physicist and clinical oncologist time, impacting cancer research progress.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Clinical Trials Research
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Radiotherapy clinical trials are crucial for advancing cancer treatments and improving patient outcomes.
- Inefficiencies in trial setup can delay the implementation of new therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate inefficiencies in the setup of radiotherapy clinical trials in the UK.
- To identify barriers and facilitators to efficient trial setup and research support.
Main Methods:
- Two online surveys collected data on trial setup timelines and research support in UK radiotherapy centers.
- Semi-structured interviews with project managers and chief investigators explored best practices for trial setup.
Main Results:
- The median time from grant approval to trial opening for 39 UK radiotherapy trials was 600 days.
- Lack of physicist and clinical oncologist time were identified as primary barriers to trial setup.
- Effective communication, prior experience, resource availability, and personnel time are key themes influencing trial setup.
Conclusions:
- This study provides current insights into the landscape of radiotherapy trial setup and research support in the UK.
- Addressing identified barriers is essential to optimize radiotherapy trial efficiency and support ongoing research efforts.
