Clinical Research Sites Need More from CROs According to CRST Survey
PHILADELPHIA, Mar 08, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- A new North American survey of 300+ clinical research site professionals for the first time documents site issues in working with Clinical Research Organizations (CROs). The survey revealed both their greatest difficulties with CROs and factors that would increase or decrease their interest in working with a CRO. Results clearly indicated that CROs who make an effort to assist sites will have a definite advantage.
The December, 2011 survey was conducted among investigators, study coordinators and other professionals from diverse sites - giants like Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins, hospitals like Rush Presbyterian and the Hospital for Sick Children, as well as multi-specialty and private practices. Clinical Research Site Training (CRST), a leading site training provider and Web "community" conducted the survey. "Given our unique focus on site professionals, conducting regular surveys puts our hands on their pulse," said Lester Levine, CRST President.
Survey findings about CROs include:
-- The two greatest difficulties in working with CROs were: -- Poorly trained and/or ever changing monitors
-- Conflicting information from sponsors and CROs
-- CROs that work with, and not just use, sites will attract more of them.
-- The key factors driving a site to want to work with a CRO include: -- Specializing in a therapeutic area
-- Offering tools/training to help sites improve
-- Really cares about helping the site
The survey also explored why clinical investigators "drop out" of doing trials and what to do about it:
-- Investigators stopped doing trials because: -- It distracts too much from their ongoing practice
-- It is a financial loss for them
-- They fail to recruit sufficient subjects
-- The two strongest suggestions for improving investigator retention were: -- Provide investigator training in managing trial profitability
-- Provide mentors to help new investigators learn the ropes
Mr. Levine noted: "Our findings suggest that CROs can differentiate themselves by:
-- Improving monitor training/retention -- perhaps, also have their monitors became "ambassadors" to help sites, not just check on them
-- Recognizing that sites, as CRO "suppliers", need care and feeding to work as partners
-- Becoming part of the solution to the investigator "drop out" problem
Full results of the survey are available on the CRST website.
About Clinical Research Site Training (CRST)
Clinical Research Site Training (CRST) www.crstnet.com provides high quality, hands-on workshops for clinical research site professionals. For over 19 years, CRST has trained thousands of coordinators, investigators and other professionals from diverse sites--private practices, multi-specialty clinics, hospitals and research organizations --for example, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Massachusetts General Hospital, University of California- San Francisco and Phoenix Children's Hospital. CRST offers both public and onsite workshops throughout the United States and Canada. Our website, www.crstnet.com is building a unique community for site professionals with a blog, polls, article links and discussion forums.
SOURCE: CRST
CRST
Lester Levine, 484-798-7503
President
[email protected]