Why People Matter More Than Ever
In the rush to adopt new technologies and adapt to regulatory changes, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly drives clinical trial quality: people.
At RQA 2024, the most impactful moment wasn’t a technical presentation or regulatory update – it was a patient advocate sharing their journey, reminding us all why we work in clinical research.
Their story crystallised a crucial truth: behind every data point, every quality metric, and every oversight task is a patient waiting for treatment.
The Challenge of Human Connection in Modern Trials
Today’s clinical trials are increasingly complex and technology-driven. With decentralised elements becoming commonplace and AI tools transforming operations, maintaining the human element is both more challenging and more critical than ever.
The risk isn’t just in failing systems or processes – it’s in losing the connection between our quality efforts and the patients they ultimately serve.
Breaking Down the Human Elements
Recent industry discussions have highlighted several key areas where the human factor significantly impacts trial quality:
- Service Provider Relationships
- The need for transparency and trust between sponsors and providers
- Understanding the “question behind the question” in requirements
- Measuring intangible aspects like client-provider happiness
- Building collaborative partnerships rather than transactional relationships
- Quality Team Dynamics
- Cultural shifts needed for proactive risk assessment
- Cross-functional team collaboration
- Clear communication channels
- Shared understanding of critical tasks
- Patient-Centric Approaches
- Creating safe environments for trial participants
- Understanding patient needs and concerns
- Facilitating clear communication
- Building trust through consistent quality practices
When Systems Alone Aren’t Enough
Consider these real scenarios observed across the industry:
- High-tech oversight systems failing because teams don’t understand how to effectively communicate findings
- Quality issues arising not from process failures, but from misaligned expectations between sponsors and providers
- Patient retention challenges stemming from overlooked human factors in trial design
- Inspection findings resulting from poor communication rather than poor processes
A More Human Approach to Quality
Success in modern clinical trials requires balancing technological capabilities with human factors:
- Foster Open Communication
- Regular, meaningful dialogue between all stakeholders
- Clear escalation pathways
- Feedback loops that actually drive improvement
- Transparent sharing of challenges and solutions
- Build Strong Relationships
- Investment in provider relationship management
- Focus on collaboration over compliance
- Regular face-to-face interactions (virtual or in-person)
- Shared commitment to patient outcomes
- Enable Human Success
- User-friendly systems that support rather than burden teams
- Clear roles and responsibilities
- Training that emphasizes why, not just how
- Recognition of good quality practices
Supporting Human-Centered Quality Management
Modern vendor management requires tools that enhance rather than replace human interaction:
- Streamline routine tasks to free up time for meaningful engagement
- Facilitate clear communication between teams
- Provide visibility into relationship health metrics
- Support collaborative problem-solving
- Enable proactive risk identification
Mayet’s platform is designed to support these human elements while maintaining robust oversight processes. By automating routine tasks and providing clear visibility into provider relationships, we help quality teams focus on what matters most: the people behind the processes.
Ready to see how technology can support the human side of clinical trial quality? Book a demonstration to discover how Mayet helps build stronger, more effective provider relationships.
This concludes our four-part series on modernising clinical trial quality management. Thank you for joining us on this journey of exploration and discovery.
