Increasing Access to Clinical Research Using an Innovative Mobile Recruitment Approach: The (MoRe) Concept

Last updated 2022-05-10T19:12:03Z

Participation in clinical research is a gateway to novel therapies that are intended to address current global health issues. We developed and piloted Mobile Recruitment (MoRe) units at 7 VA medical centers that were study sites for the Million Veteran Program (MVP) study, a high-volume, observational cohort study and mega biobank in the VA health care system. We employed this recruitment strategy to address three common barriers to clinical research participation: 1) research participant travel burden, 2) participant access to study opportunities, and 3) low participant enrollment.

Origin:

June 2014, Dallas VA Medical Center, Edward Hines Junior Hospital, Jennifer Moreno Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (San Diego, California), Michael E. DeBakey Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Houston), Minneapolis VA Medical Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota), Portland VA Medical Center (Portland, Oregon), Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center (Long Beach)

Adoptions:

7 successful

Awards and Recognition:

VHA Shark Tank Winner

Overview

The problem

Travel and time burden on clinical trial participants has been reported to cause significant delays on study execution and completion, although leveraging electronic technologies to address travel burden on participants has been suggested as a feasible solution in clinical research practice.

Links

Recent literature suggests that living in a rural setting may be associated with adverse cancer outcomes. This study examines the burden of travel from home to cancer center for clinical trial (CT) enrollees. At What Cost to Clinical Trial Enrollment? A Retrospective Study of Patient Travel Burden in Cancer Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are time consuming, expensive, and often burdensome on patients. Clinical trials can fail for many reasons. This survey reviews many of these reasons and offers insights on opportunities for improving the likelihood of creating and executing successful clinical trials. Literature from the past 30 years was reviewed for relevant data. Common patterns in reported successful trials are identified, including factors regarding the study site, study coordinator/investigator, and the effects on participating patients. Specific instances where artificial intelligence can help improve clinical trials are identified. Factors associated with clinical trials that fail and opportunities for improving the likelihood of success: A review

The solution

Mobile Recruitment (MoRe) is a clinical research participant recruitment strategy that integrates the use of mobile technology in atypical research recruitment locations and improves Veteran access to research study opportunities.

The results

This strategy has been piloted at seven VA sites in a VA-sponsored large, observational cohort study (Million Veteran Program) and study participant enrollment at those sites increased by an average of 38.9% over an 18-month period.

Diffusion tracker

Does not include Clinical Resource Hubs (CRH)

CA: Jennifer Moreno Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (San Diego, California) CA: Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center (Long Beach) IL: Edward Hines Junior Hospital (Hines) MN: Minneapolis VA Medical Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota) OR: Portland VA Medical Center (Portland, Oregon) TX: Dallas VA Medical Center (Dallas) TX: Michael E. DeBakey Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Houston)

There are no in-progress adoptions for this innovation.

There are no unsuccessful adoptions for this innovation.

Implementation

Departments

Administration
Information technology

Core Resources

Resource type	Resource description
PEOPLE	Interested principal study investigator/study team with a willingness to engage with the community Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) Clinical Managers Local Office of Information and Technology (OIT) Chief Relevant Service/Department Clinic Administrative Officers (AOs)
PROCESSES	Implementation feedback and result data
TOOLS	Laptop Laptop Bag Portable printer/copier/scanner Collapsible cart with storage space Cooler/ice packs for specimen storage and transport Portable phlebotomy arm stand Phlebotomy lockable supply tote Portable privacy screen Insulated specimen cooler

Contact

Comment

Comments and replies are disabled for retired innovations and non-VA users.

Email

Email CSPNODES@va.gov with questions about this innovation.

About

Origin story

Access to healthcare delivery programs and systems is a primary correlate to the overall health and well-being of Veterans and the general population. Participation in clinical research is a gateway to novel therapies that are intended to address current global health issues. Meeting or exceeding recruitment goals in clinical research is one of the key deter ... Access to healthcare delivery programs and systems is a primary correlate to the overall health and well-being of Veterans and the general population. Participation in clinical research is a gateway to novel therapies that are intended to address current global health issues. Meeting or exceeding recruitment goals in clinical research is one of the key determinants of the timely and successful completion of a study. The travel and time burdens experienced by study participants are often considered barriers to their enrollment into clinical research. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Cooperative Studies Program (CSP) established a consortium of nine VA medical centers (VAMCs) called the Network of Dedicated Enrollment Sites (NODES). The NODES program provides study site-level expertise and innovative approaches that address challenges to clinical research execution. In alignment with our mission, our program developed an approach to increase study participant access to clinical research through implementing “Mobile Recruitment (MoRe)” units. This practice addresses the challenges associated with the three common barriers to clinical research participation: 1) research participant travel burden, 2) participant access to study opportunities, and 3) low participant enrollment.

Original team

Marcus Johnson

CSP NODES National Program Manager

Danielle Beck

Associate Director-Operations, San Diego NODES

Aliya Asghar

Associate Director-Operations, Long Beach NODES

Tawni Kenworthy-Heinige

Associate Director-Operations, Portland NODES

Debra Condon

Associate Director-Operations, Minneapolis NODES

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