Telehealth in oncology: a cost analysis to evaluate the financial impact of implementing regional trial hubs within a phase 3 cancer clinical trial

Marliese Alexander; Ian Collins; Patrick Abraham; Craig Underhill; Sam Harris; Javier Torres; Sharad Sharma; Benjamin Solomon; An Tran-Duy; Kate Burbury

doi:10.1111/imj.16292

Telehealth in oncology: a cost analysis to evaluate the financial impact of implementing regional trial hubs within a phase 3 cancer clinical trial

Intern Med J. 2023 Dec;53(12):2346-2349. doi: 10.1111/imj.16292.

Authors

Marliese Alexander^{1

2}, Ian Collins^{3

4}, Patrick Abraham⁵, Craig Underhill^{6

7}, Sam Harris⁸, Javier Torres^{9

10}, Sharad Sharma¹¹, Benjamin Solomon^{2

12}, An Tran-Duy⁵, Kate Burbury^{2

13}

Affiliations

¹ Pharmacy Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
² Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
³ Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁵ Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁶ Border Medical Oncology and Haematology Research Unit, Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre, Albury Wodonga, New South Wales, Australia.
⁷ Rural Medical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁸ Bendigo Cancer Centre, Bendigo Health, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.
⁹ Peter Copulos Cancer and Wellness Centre, Goulburn Valley Health, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia.
¹⁰ Shepparton Clinical School, The University of Melbourne, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia.
¹¹ Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre, Grampians Health, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
¹² Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
¹³ Department of Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Abstract

This cost analysis, from a societal perspective, compared the cost difference of a networked teletrial model (NTTM) with four regional hubs versus conventional trial operation at a single metropolitan specialist centre. The Australian phase 3 cancer interventional randomised controlled trial included 152 of 328 regional participants (patient enrolment 2018-2021; 6-month primary end point). The NTTM significantly reduced (AU$2155 per patient) patient travel cost and time and lost productivity.

Keywords: cancer; clinical trial; cost analysis; patient cost; teletrial.

Publication types

Comparative Study

MeSH terms

Australia / epidemiology
Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Costs and Cost Analysis
Humans
Medical Oncology
Neoplasms* / epidemiology
Neoplasms* / therapy
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Telemedicine*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding