A Digital Tool to Improve Patient Recruitment and Retention in Clinical Trials in Rural Colombia-A Preliminary Investigation for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Research at Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET)

Abstract

Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET) is a multidisciplinary tropical medicine research group based at the University of Antioquia, Colombia. PECET is currently conducting clinical trials in the treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniosis (CL) in rural Colombia, using the OpenMRS database (an open source health record). Like many research groups in the developing world, PECET has encountered challenges recruiting and retaining study patients. This paper investigates the potential use of mobile digital tools to assist PECET with recruitment and retention of patients in clinical trials. We will explore how a ‘pre-screening’ digital tool and ‘patient messaging’ tool might generate value for patients, community health workers, and PECET staff to improve patient recruitment and retention and ultimately result in more efficient and effective clinical trials. This paper is a preliminary study, and the recommendations therein will provide the foundation for further investigation, development, and iteration of these digital tools in the future.