The impact of internet connectivity when conducting a virtual clinical trial with participants living in rural areas

Aim

The purpose of this secondary analysis was to describe issues related to internet connections during a virtual randomized clinical trial (v-RCT) that included family caregiver participants living in rural areas.

Background

Success of v-RCTs depends on reliable, high-quality internet access, which can be problematic in rural areas.

Methods

Interventionists documented connectivity issues and corrections made to address connectivity in a narrative note after each virtual visit with family caregivers enrolled in a v-RCT. Notes were reviewed for descriptions of the internet connection during the visit and then coded into those with and without connectivity problems. Two investigators reviewed notes and codes to assure reliability. Discrepancies in codes were discussed or arbitrated by a third investigator until consensus was reached. Analysis was completed using descriptive statistics.

Results

Of the 1003 visits reviewed, only 11 % of visits (115/1003) contained a documented problem with internet connectivity. Visits with documented connectivity problems were experienced by 27 % of participants (58/215). However, 60 % (35/58) of participants with a documented issue had a problem with only one visit. None of the participants withdrew from the v-RCT due to problems with their internet connections.

Conclusions

The findings support the effective use of virtual visits in research involving participants living in rural locations. V-RCTs provide a strategy that enables participation for individuals who may not otherwise have access to clinical trials conducted in-person in urban settings. Utilizing internet access to connect with and support people who live in rural areas is critically needed to advance clinical research.