The concept of Teletrials is to adopt novel methodologies to support people living in regional, rural and remote Australia to participate in clinical trials. There are a number of ways that clinical trials can achieve this aim, and some of these approaches can expand access more broadly to ensure that all trials are accessible, making participation truly equitable.
ACTA has been working with the Australian Teletrial Program (ATP) to explore how Clinical Trial Networks (CTNs) and Coordinating Trial Centres have used the teletrial approach in their trials. We have identified several examples from our networks, and we provide snapshots of their experiences here. This web resource is not intended to be a comprehensive how-to-guide, but rather to promote a community of practice. That is, by sharing experiences we can collectively work toward enhancing access to trials for all Australians.
We encourage you to reach out to the groups who have shared their stories here if you want more information.
We also encourage you to consider joining ACTA’s Raising Equity of Access to Clinical Trials Special Interest Group (REACT-SIG). Register your interest via acta@acta.au
Teletrial insights library
The AGITG has provided an example of how it is using teletrial approaches to its clinical trials as well as an overview of how they are adopting a range of related methodologies to enhance participation for a broader range of people.
- STOPNET: A randomised study of cessation of Somatostatin analogues after Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy in Mid, Hind-Gut and Pancreatic Neuroendocrine tumours
- Enhancing recruitment: An overview of the AGITG approach to increasing inclusivity of clinical trials
MedCan 3 Trial: Medicinal cannabis to relieve symptoms of advanced cancer in palliative care patients
A randomised, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess THC/CBD (1:20) to relieve symptom burden in patients with cancer – a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
IMPEDE-PKD Trial: Implementation of Metformin Therapy to Ease Decline of Kidney Function in PKD (IMPEDE-PKD)
A trial of Metformin to slow down disease progression in people with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD).
Socrates Trial
A randomised controlled trial of Standard Of Care versus RadioAblaTion in Early Stage HepatoCellular Carcinoma