Electronic Data Capture Paper

Electronic Data Capture

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The benefits of increased efficiency as a result of using Electronic Data Capture (EDC) and electronic data management has been in existence for a number of years. However, the adoption of EDC for clinical trials has been gradual. This is because of the experience required in implementing EDC. Implementing EDC in clinical trials may not bring out all the benefits associated with EDC if it is not implemented properly. This is the main reason why there are still reservations in the implementation of EDC to clinical trials.
Any clinical establishment that has taken into consideration implementing EDC or is already in the process of implementing EDC, must have considerable knowledge and understanding of the various technologies and benefits expected from this system. Although the adoption and implementation of EDC can assist in the streamlining of the clinical trial process, through the advantages of a paperless system, there is need to institute and mange change across the organization as a whole (Gary & Tim, 2005).
Some of the benefits that are associated with the implementation of EDC include improved security, consistency in conducting research, increased efficiency and easy access to information (Prokscha,
A key area is data collection from patients. EDC offers the option of Electronic Patient Diaries (EPD). As was the case with paper trials where patients at time forgot to fill in necessary information over the period of the trial, through EPDs where a patient enters data directly through a mobile device, research associates can keep track of the clinical trial and know in any case when a participant has dropped out or not (Chin & Bairu, 2011). Furthermore, with the use of the EDP the assistant is able to keep track of whether all the right procedures have been followed reducing cases of