Analysis of Efficiency and User Satisfaction Following the Introduction of Digital Source Documents and Resources in a Clinical Research Setting

Efficient and accurate data management processes are essential for the successful conduction of clinical trials. The clinical research industry is unique among biomedical fields in that much of the reporting is still conducted using paper-based systems. Recent trends towards exchanging paper-based documentation methods for electronic documentation methods have shown that implementation of digital resources have the potential to expedite clinical development. This practicum sought to evaluate paper-based and electronic documentation processes in a cancer clinic in regards to efficiency and user satisfaction, and determine which documentation form was superior in these areas. Retrospective analyses and a survey were used as the sources of data to assess for these differences. It was determined that the replacement of paper-based methods with electronic methods of documentation at this particular clinic resulted in both greater timeliness and higher user satisfaction.