Access Experimental Treatment Options: Clinical Trials At The VA

The (VA) Office of Research and Development has joined the Decentralized Trials and Research Alliance (DTRA) to enhance access to “decentralized” clinical trials, marking a significant shift in how clinical trials are conducted. The idea is to make clinical trials more accessible and convenient for veterans, especially those facing challenges like distance, mobility, or health issues.

Talk to your healthcare team at the VA to see if a virtual clinical trial is right for you.

Shifting to ‘decentralized’ clinical trials

Traditionally, participating in a clinical trial meant traveling to a clinic for treatment or monitoring. However, the digital age has introduced more flexible options for patients. The VA’s involvement with DTRA signifies a move towards telemedicine, home delivery of medications being studied, and other methods that allow veterans to participate in clinical trials from their homes or local settings. “Even if you’re at a relatively remote rural VA, we have a virtual clinical trials program where you don’t really need a clinical trials group on the ground,” Dr. Matthew Rettig told Survivor Net.

The benefits of virtual trials

There are many benefits to conducting clinical trials virtually (beyond just the obvious convenience. These include:

• Reaching More Veterans: The VA’s virtual clinical trials program is primarily designed to broaden veterans’ access to clinical research. This is significant for veterans living in remote or rural areas, who often face logistical challenges in participating in traditional, site-based clinical trials. By implementing virtual options, veterans, regardless of their location, have the opportunity to participate in potentially life-saving clinical trials and potentially gain access to new and innovative treatments.
• Better Convenience and Participant Compliance: A key objective of the virtual clinical trials program is to enhance the overall convenience for participants. This not only minimizes the physical and time burden on participants but also potentially increases their adherence to trial protocols. By facilitating participation from the comfort of their homes, the program aims to ensure that veterans can easily stay engaged in studies until their completion, thereby improving the overall success rate of the trials.
• Improving Diversity in Clinical Research: The VA’s virtual clinical trials program aims to improve the diversity of research participants. The virtual format of these trials is more inclusive, offering participation opportunities to a wider and more diverse group of veterans. This inclusivity is crucial for ensuring that the outcomes of clinical research are relevant and beneficial to all segments of the veteran population.

How does the virtual program work?

The VA is utilizing various technologies to facilitate virtual clinical trials. These include:

• Videoconferencing: Veterans can talk to healthcare providers through video calls, which is great for check-ups and advice.
• Secure Texting: Veterans can text trial coordinators or doctors in a secure way. This is quick and keeps private information safe. It allows for quick check-ins, medication reminders, and the ability to address any concerns or questions that may arise during the course of the trial.
• Home Delivery of Study Medications: A significant innovation in the virtual clinical trials program is the home delivery of study medications. This service was pioneered by the VA Cooperative Studies Program (CSP). By delivering medications directly to participants’ homes, the VA has reduced the burden on veterans from having to pick up their medications elsewhere.
• VA’s Annie App for Health Monitoring: The Annie App, a mobile health technology developed by the VA, is being integrated into some virtual clinical trials. This app is primarily used for sending self-care reminders and tracking health metrics. It plays a crucial role in remote patient monitoring. This tool is instrumental in collecting real-time health data, which is vital for the success of virtual clinical trials.

Why choose a virtual clinical trial?

Veterans worried about safety and security of virtual clinical trials can rest easy. Just like in-person trials, the VA ensures that all the information in virtual trials is safe and private. They use secure technology to protect veterans’ information.

Plus, there are many other benefits for you, the patient, to consider, including:

• Physical and Financial Relief: Veterans participating in trials no longer face the physical strain and financial burden of frequent travel.
• Increased Accessibility: The reduced need for travel makes clinical trials more accessible to a broader range of veterans, including those who might have been unable or unwilling to participate due to distance or travel-related expenses.
• Improved Participant Retention: The convenience of participating from home increases the likelihood that veterans will stay in the study for its entire duration.
• Reduced Infrastructure Needs: With remote participation, the need for physical infrastructure and resources at multiple VA sites is greatly diminished. This reduction in infrastructure can lead to substantial cost savings for the VA.

The VA’s Virtual Clinical Trials Program is a big step forward in making medical research more accessible to veterans. It’s a great example of using technology to improve healthcare.

If you are interested in participating in a virtual clinical trial at the VA, consult your physician to see if you may be eligible.

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