Departures from the protocol during conduct of a clinical trial: a pattern from the data record consistent with a learning curve.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
OBJECTIVE: Recognition of learning curves in medical skill acquisition has enhanced patient safety through improved training techniques. Clinical trials research has not been similarly scrutinised. The VALsartan In Acute myocardial iNfarcTion, a large multinational, pragmatic, randomised, double-blind, multicentre trial, was retrospectively evaluated for evidence of research conduct consistent with a performance "learning curve". DESIGN: Records provided protocol departure (deviations/violations) and documentation query data. For each site, analysis included patient order (eg, first, second), recruitment rate and first enrollment relative to study start date. SETTING: Computerised data from a trial coordinated by an academic research organisation collaborating with 10 academic and 2 commercial research organisations and an industry sponsor. Interventions 931 sites enrolled 14,703 patients. Departures were restricted to the first year. Exclusions included patient's death or loss to follow-up within 12 months and subjects enrolled 80th or higher at a site. Departures were assessed for variance with higher patient rank, more frequent recruitment and later start date. METHODS AND RESULTS: 12,367 patients at 931 sites were analysed. Departures were more common for patients enrolled earlier at a site (p<0.0001). For example, compared with the 30th patient, the first had 47% more departures. Departures were also more common with slower enrollment and site start closer to the trial start date (p<0.0001). Similar patterns existed for queries. CONCLUSIONS: Research performance improved during the VALsartan In Acute myocardial iNfarcTion consistent with a "learning curve". Although effects were not related to a change in outcome (mortality), learning curves in clinical research may have important safety, ethical, research quality and economic implications for trial conduct.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Taekman, JM; Stafford-Smith, M; Velazquez, EJ; Wright, MC; Phillips-Bute, BG; Pfeffer, MA; Sellers, MA; Pieper, KS; Newman, MF; Van de Werf, F; Diaz, R; Leimberger, J; Califf, RM
Published Date
- October 2010
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 19 / 5
Start / End Page
- 405 - 410
PubMed ID
- 20702441
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC3258507
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1475-3901
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1136/qshc.2008.028605
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- England