Are Internet-Based Studies the Future of Clinical Research? 3

Earlier this month, we ran across this tweet from Stephanie Fischer (@SDFatPhRMA):

Though the comment may be referring mostly to prohibitive eligibility criteria found in some trial designs, there are many additional factors that make trials “hard to get into,” according to feedback from patients.  Inconvenient locations, overly-demanding reporting requirements, and too-frequent lab test appointments are just are few. As technologies that allow data collection and  at-home lab tests improve and become more widespread, the rise of online clinical trials may provide more opportunities for researchers to conduct more inclusive studies, and to help patients overcome some of these common barriers to participation.