Healthcare systems have just started embracing technology and understanding what it will mean for the practice of medicine and their institutions. But oncology as a specialty has unique challenges when it comes to implementing technology.
Due to the lack of industry-wide evidence frameworks for digital health solutions in oncology, regulators’ and payers' requirements are usually the same as drugs. However, drugs and oncology digital health solutions are very different in nature, and it is hard to fit those digital solutions into the traditional evidence standards.
On top of that, digital health companies in oncology have limited resources (money, time and people), which can get in the way of building more robust evidence.
But what does good quality evidence look like for digital health in oncology? Let’s understand.
Key Features of Good Quality Evidence for Digital Health in Oncology
Good quality evidence for digital health in oncology should meet certain criteria in order to provide a robust foundation for the use of digital health technologies in cancer care. Here are some key features of good quality evidence for digital health in oncology:
Large Sample Size: Studies should have a large sample size in order to provide robust evidence of the effectiveness of digital health technologies. The larger the sample size, the more likely the results are to be representative of the general population.
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs): Randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard in medical research, and provide the most robust evidence of the effectiveness of treatment. RCTs in digital health in oncology should compare the use of digital health technology to a control group, in order to determine its effectiveness.
Long-Term Follow-Up: Studies should have a long-term follow-up period in order to provide evidence of the long-term benefits and risks of digital health technologies in oncology. This can help to determine whether the benefits of digital health technologies are sustained over time.
Real-World Evidence: Real-world evidence is evidence of the effectiveness and safety of digital health technologies that is collected from real-world settings, such as clinical practices and patient communities. This type of evidence is important in digital health in oncology because it provides a more representative picture of how digital health technologies are used and their impact on patients.
Patient-Centered Outcomes: Studies should measure patient-centred outcomes, such as quality of life, satisfaction, and adherence to treatment, in addition to more traditional measures such as survival and disease progression. This provides a more complete picture of the impact of digital health technologies on patients' lives.
Rigorous Methodology: Studies should have a rigorous methodology, including a clear definition of the study population, well-designed interventions, and robust data collection and analysis. This helps to ensure that the evidence is of high quality and can be relied upon to inform clinical decision-making.
By following these principles, digital health companies and researchers can provide robust evidence of the effectiveness and safety of digital health technologies, which can help to ensure that they are adopted and used in clinical practice in a responsible and evidence-based manner.
To learn more about ‘Standards for Robust Evidence from Digital Health in Oncology’, join the HealthXL Meeting on 21st February. Click here to Request to Join.
Want us to cover a specific topic or explain a new technology or innovation? Write to us at [email protected].