New research reveals that Australians are reluctant to participate in clinical trials, which hinders patient access to potentially life-saving treatments.
The study comes in the lead-up to International Clinical Trial Day on Monday, May 20.
Despite more than 493,000 active clinical trials worldwide, only 16% of Australians have engaged in such trials. Recruitment issues delay 80% of clinical trials.
Barriers to participation include uncertainty about possible side effects (57%), inconvenience of trial locations (44%) and the time commitment required (32%). Other concerns include being used as 'guinea pigs' (25%) and the financial cost of participation (30%).
Clinical trials are essential for validating the safety and effectiveness of new treatments and therapies across various conditions. The clinical trial sector now generates more export revenue than construction, intellectual property charges and government services in Australia.
Connecting GPs and pharmacists to clinical trials
The good news is trust in healthcare providers is high, with 69% of Australians indicating that they trust GPs and specialists for information about clinical trials.
In response to these challenges, Evrima Technologies has introduced Evripath, an Australian-first tech solution that connects GPs and pharmacists to clinical trials.
This patient referral network aims to address recruitment shortfalls and enhance patient care by making information about current clinical trials more accessible to healthcare providers and their patients.
“Without clinical trials, medical progress would be significantly hindered and patients would not have access to innovative and potentially life-saving treatments,” Evrima Technologies CEO Charlotte Bradshaw said.
“Last month, Evrima successfully completed a pilot project in New South Wales, along with StrongRoom AI, a medication management platform, and Paratus Clinical, a clinical trial site network, to identify eligible participants via pharmacies and refer them to local clinical trials in their community.
“This project saw rapid adoption by healthcare professionals and provided a number of patients with the opportunity to participate in clinical trials they wouldn’t normally have been aware of. Evrima plans to expand this network to reach 5 million people by the end of the year.”
Montana Grenfell, B.Pharm, accredited pharmacist and chief of staff at StrongRoom AI, says Evripath could have major impacts for clinical trial recruitment and patient care, particularly in advancing healthcare solutions and offering hope to patients with challenging health conditions.
Montana Grenfell says Evripath could have major impacts for clinical trial recruitment and patient care.
According to Grenfell, the success of the Evripath pilot project demonstrates the significant impact of technology-enabled solutions in clinical trial recruitment.
The patient’s perspective
Leeanne Lovey, a 63-year-old from Bundoora, Victoria, is actively involved in advancing medical research through her participation in clinical trials. Motivated by her family's history of diabetes, she began her journey with a focus on diabetes research.
Recently, she participated in a study on the efficacy of probiotics as an early intervention for reducing bone loss in post-menopausal women. Lovey discovered this study on Evrima Technologies’ website and decided to participate to learn more about bone health in older age.
“The study provided me with invaluable education on making simple dietary changes that can significantly improve my bone health. Additionally, I had access to medical tests that would have been cost-prohibitive otherwise, offering insights into my health that the average person might not have,” Lovey said.
For those considering clinical trials but have reservations, she advises: "If the subject, location and time suit, just do it. You are not locked in and can opt-out at any time."
Lovey believes that companies like Evrima Technologies can significantly impact the healthcare industry and stresses the importance of clinical trials for ongoing treatment advancements.
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