Innovative Technologies in CNS Trials: Promises and Pitfalls for Recruitment, Retention, and Representativeness

Area of Science:

• Clinical Trials Methodology
• Neuroscience Research
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Recruiting and retaining patients in central nervous system (CNS) trials is challenging.
• Technological advancements are transforming clinical trial operations.
• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of new technologies in clinical research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey technological innovations for improving patient recruitment and retention in CNS trials.
• To assess the benefits and drawbacks of these technologies.
• To identify gaps in current research regarding technology's impact on CNS trials.

Main Methods:

• A working group from the International Society for CNS Clinical Trials and Methodology (ISCTM) conducted a survey.
• The survey focused on technological innovations aimed at enhancing recruitment and retention in CNS studies.
• The assessment included online advertising, electronic patient registries, and electronic medical record (EMR) mining using AI/ML.

Main Results:

• Online recruitment tools show promise but face challenges in representativeness, data privacy, and patient identification.
• Electronic medical record (EMR) mining with AI/ML is promising but not yet widely implemented in trials.
• Digital tools can support participant retention and adherence, but add complexity and their impact on generalizability is unclear.

Conclusions:

• There is a lack of systematic data evaluating the impact of technological innovations on CNS trial recruitment and retention.
• More research is needed to validate the effectiveness and generalizability of these technologies.
• Data is crucial for optimizing the use of technologies in CNS trials and encouraging wider adoption.