Journal article
Telehealth in oncology: a cost analysis to evaluate the financial impact of implementing regional trial hubs within a phase 3 cancer clinical trial
M Alexander, I Collins, P Abraham, C Underhill, S Harris, J Torres, S Sharma, B Solomon, A Tran-Duy, K Burbury
Internal Medicine Journal | WILEY | Published : 2023
DOI: 10.1111/imj.16292
Abstract
This cost analysis, from a societal perspective, compared the cost difference of a networked teletrial model (NTTM) with four regional hubs versus conventional trial operation at a single metropolitan specialist centre. The Australian phase 3 cancer interventional randomised controlled trial included 152 of 328 regional participants (patient enrolment 2018–2021; 6-month primary end point). The NTTM significantly reduced (AU$2155 per patient) patient travel cost and time and lost productivity.
Grants
Awarded by Victorian Cancer Agency
Funding Acknowledgements
We thank the following funding organisations that supported investigator salary and trial operational costs (Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation (Fellowship - Alexander), the Victorian Cancer Agency (ECHSRF18006 - Alexander) and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (1196211 - Alexander), and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Pharmacy Department, which contributed the study drug. Funders had no input into the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis and interpretation of the data; preparation, review or approval of the manuscript; or decision to submit the manuscript for publication. Patrick Abraham and An Tran-Duy were partly supported by the Methods and Implementation Support for Clinical and Health research (MISCH) Hub at the University of Melbourne. Open access publishing facilitated by The University of Melbourne, as part of the Wiley - The University of Melbourne agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.