ClinicalSMS services
E-diary systems
Collecting data from your subjects in a timely and efficient manner is a major concern to all clinical trials. Here at clinicalSMS we use mobile phone technology to gather data from your participants and integrate it seamlessly into your workflow. We can not only collect and timestamp data but validate it and if necessary automate replies, both easing the workload of your team and increasing the quality of your data. An example of how the E-diary system could be used is as follows: twice daily for the course of an asthma study every participant is sent a text message containing 4 questions about their symptoms. For instance "Do you have a cough, wheeze, sore throat, or headache?". The participant replies to this message in a predetermined format and the clinicalSMS system validates and stores the data. The study coordinator is able to view the live data as it comes in on the clinicalSMS site or have it sent to their inbox. It is also possible to have the system check the data and flag up any untoward events, informing the study staff if a participant's symptoms were to increase above a certain level. At the end of the trial (or beforehand if necessary) the coordinator is given a dump of all the collected data in whatever format the design of the study dictates.
Recruitment of participants
Recruitment is not only time consuming but often futile. With clinicalSMS however you can reach a large number of potential subjects with minimal input from staff, freeing up time. This means that you can send out key inclusion criteria for the study, allowing study staff to concentrate on subjects who are interested in taking part in the research.
Medication reminders
With the best will in the world, people forget things. If it is imperative to your study that medication is taken at a certain time clinicalSMS can help. A member of the study team would enter into the system the participant's phone number and the time that their medication is due. Reminders will be sent out automatically, freeing up time that might otherwise have been wasted on endless phone calls. Responses from the participant can also be requested, allowing you to keep a record of the times and dates the medication was taken.
Delivering results
We all lead busy lives making phoning for medical results often impractical and inconvenient. By providing a text message service patients can receive their results quickly and confidentially. For staff the process of providing results is hastened by this system.
Controlling doses of study medication
If your trial requires adjustments to study medication based on daily results, obtained by you or the subject, clinicalSMS can help. For example in a diabetes trial the subject may text the system their latest blood sugar reading. The system can then be configured to inform the subject of the correct dose of study medication to take.
Improving compliance with study restrictions
Compliance with study restrictions is always an issue within clinical trials and can have a significant impact on the data collected. It is therefore important to remind subjects of the restriction of the trial. For example, if you need your subjects to abstain from eating for 24 hours prior to a visit, a reminder can be sent at the appropriate time.
Sending out appointments and reminders
ClinicalSMS can help keep your attendance rates high by sending out SMS reminders at a set time before appointments. This is particularly useful for longitudinal studies or studies with complex visit schedules.
