The traditional clinical trial model—based in large hospitals, centralised study sites, and in-person visits, is evolving rapidly. The rise of Decentralised Clinical Trials (DCTs) is changing the way research is conducted, making participation more flexible, inclusive, and accessible to patients from all walks of life.
What’s powering this shift? A new wave of digital tools that enable researchers to collect data, engage patients, and ensure compliance, without requiring every visit to happen on-site.
What Are Decentralised Clinical Trials?
Decentralised Clinical Trials involve conducting parts (or all) of a clinical study outside traditional clinical settings. This could mean allowing patients to report symptoms from home, attend consultations via telemedicine, or provide consent electronically.
Some of the key components include:
- Telemedicine for virtual site visits and follow-ups
- ePROs and eCRFs for digital data capture in real time
- Home delivery of study medication
- eConsent tools to ensure secure, validated digital authorisations
- Remote monitoring and wearable devices for continuous health data
Together, these elements create a patient-centric trial experience that removes many of the logistical barriers to participation.
Why DCTs Matter
By reducing the need for patients to travel to physical trial sites, DCTs improve:
- Accessibility: reaching rural, mobility-restricted, or underserved populations
- Diversity: enrolling broader, more representative patient groups
- Retention: keeping participants engaged by minimising disruption to their lives
- Speed: enabling faster recruitment and more efficient data collection
For sponsors and CROs, DCTs can also lead to cost savings, improved compliance, and more flexible trial management.
Challenges Still Exist
While the benefits of DCTs are clear, implementing them successfully requires careful planning. Challenges include:
- Ensuring data security across remote systems
- Coordinating multiple vendors or platforms
- Adhering to global regulatory standards
- Maintaining clear and consistent communication with participants
That’s why selecting the right digital infrastructure is critical.
Xolomon: making research accessible
At Xolomon, we provide an all-in-one eClinical platform designed to support decentralised, hybrid, and traditional trials alike.
With built-in tools for eCRF, ePRO, eConsent, and more, sponsors and CROs can manage decentralised workflows without relying on multiple disconnected systems. Our platform ensures real-time access to data, full regulatory compliance, and maximum flexibility for studies of any scale.
Whether you’re exploring your first hybrid study or scaling a fully remote trial, Xolomon makes it simple to stay connected, compliant, and in control, from anywhere.
📩 Want to learn how Xolomon can support your decentralised trial strategy? Contact us at info@xolomon.com or visit www.xolomon.com
