Implementing Teletrials to Improve Equity of Access for Regional Patients With Cancer: Report From the Victorian Teletrial Collaborative.

Abstract

Aim: The uptake of telehealth, including for clinical trials (teletrials), accelerated during the pandemic and helps address inequity of access for underserved populations. This report discusses the work of experts in Victoria to implement teletrials in cancer clinical trials but has learnings for other jurisdictions and in other disease types.

Methods: Three funded programs in Victoria (the Regional Trials Network Victoria, Trial Hub Alfred, and the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance), each tasked with improving access to clinical trials for regional patients, formed the Victorian Teletrial Collaborative. In addition, they coordinated work with the Australian Teletrial Program and Safer Care Victoria. The Collaborative, backed with a Memorandum of Understanding and using a collective impact framework, held a workshop and developed a workplan and program logic. It met monthly to make progress against the workplan, which had four main themes: governance/logistics, education/training, advocacy/awareness, and operational Processes.

Results: The Collaborative developed operational templates, toolkits for consumers and clinicians, education and training modules, and discussion papers to help overcome barriers to the implementation of teletrials. It conducted a workshop of national experts to consider barriers and enablers for the implementation of teletrials in early-phase clinical trials and developed a masterclass for clinicians. Future work plans focus on advocacy and communication about teletrials.

Conclusion: The Victorian Teletrial Collaborative has utilized an evidence-based approach to develop a series of toolkits and recommendations aimed at facilitating the sustainable uptake of teletrials in our jurisdiction and elsewhere.