ABSTRACT
High temperatures during the summer season are a very important factor to be considered due to their possible influence on drug stability and effectiveness. This is especially important in those patients included in clinical trials, polymedicated or with long-term pharmacological therapies.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To develop a relative value unit (RVU)-based tool for the measurement and reimbursement of pharmacy services for clinical trials. METHODS: A portfolio of activities was agreed by consensus in four tertiary hospitals. Related activities were pooled into several categories or intermediate products. We recorded the duration of each activity by multiple determinations. We then calculated the average time of all determinations. The reference activity was assigned a value of 1. All other activities were compared to the reference activity to obtain the RVU. To establish which items should be invoiced to third parties for the activities performed, we defined the final products (different types of clinical trials according to their complexity). RESULTS: Ten intermediate products and five final products were differentiated. Six intermediate products could be repeated over the course of a clinical trial and seven were performed whether or not the clinical trial had included patients. Each final product consisted of different categories. The total number of RVUs produced for a clinical trial was the sum of each constant category value plus the repetitive category values multiplied by the number of repetitions. CONCLUSION: The application of RVU methodology in investigational drug services allows a more precise quantification of services performed. After a prospective validation to confirm the applicability of this tool, it may contribute to more appropriate invoicing to third parties for these services.
ABSTRACT
La creciente regulación de la investigación clínica, tanto nacional como europea, ha venido a incrementar los trámites administrativos necesarios para obtener las autorizaciones pertinentes previas al inicio de cualquier estudio de investigación biomédica. En función del tipo de estudio estos requisitos son más o menos complejos: los ensayos clínicos con medicamentos e investigaciones clínicas con productos sanitarios se encuentran entre los que disponen de más desarrollo normativo, mientras que los proyectos de investigación con procedimientos no invasivos están en la situación opuesta. Entre ambos, todo un abanico de normativas puede dificultar la labor del clínico a la hora de llevar a la práctica un estudio. Con este artículo pretendemos proporcionar unas instrucciones a seguir para cada tipo de estudio, así como informar de la legislación aplicable (AU)
The expanding body of regulations that affect biomedical research both in Spain and the rest of Europe have led to an increasing amount administrative work for obtaining approvals before a study can start. The complexity of the requirements will depend on the study design: clinical trials with medicines or other health care products are subject to the most highly developed regulations, whereas those affecting studies of non-invasive procedures are less complex. Between the 2 extremes, a range of requirements can complicate the clinical researcher's task. In this article we seek to provide instructions according to the type of study being planned and to explain relevant legislation (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Biomedical Research/methods , Data Collection/methods , Research Design , Therapies, Investigational/methods , Drugs, Investigational , Investigational New Drug Application/methods , Research and Development ProjectsABSTRACT
EN: The expanding body of regulations that affect biomedical research both in Spain and the rest of Europe have led to an increasing amount administrative work for obtaining approvals before a study can start. The complexity of the requirements will depend on the study design: clinical trials with medicines or other health care products are subject to the most highly developed regulations, whereas those affecting studies of noninvasive procedures are less complex. Between the 2 extremes, a range of requirements can complicate the clinical researcher's task. In this article we seek to provide instructions according to the type of study being planned and to explain relevant legislation.
ES: La creciente regulación de la investigación clínica, tanto nacional como europea, ha venido a incrementar los trámites administrativos necesarios para obtener las autorizaciones pertinentes previas al inicio de cualquier estudio de investigación biomédica. En función del tipo de estudio estos requisitos son más o menos complejos: los ensayos clínicos con medicamentos e investigaciones clínicas con productos sanitarios se encuentran entre los que disponen de más desarrollo normativo, mientras que los proyectos de investigación con procedimientos no invasivos están en la situación opuesta. Entre ambos, todo un abanico de normativas puede dificultar la labor del clínico a la hora de llevar a la práctica un estudio. Con este artículo pretendemos proporcionar unas instrucciones a seguir para cada tipo de estudio, así como informar de la legislación aplicable.
