Clinican wellbeing
‘Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’. World Health Organisation
Clinician well-being is vital to providing care to patients, with research showing distinct links between clinician health and patient outcomes. This includes job satisfaction and engagement with work, professional fulfilment and a sense of meaning.
Clinical Teams
What is a teletrial?
A teletrial is a group of clinical trial sites that work together to conduct a clinical trial under the supervision of a Primary Site.
A teletrial uses telehealth technology to communicate between the Primary Site and Satellite Site/s and enable delivery of aspects of a clinical trial closer to home for patients particularly in regional, rural and remote locations. A Principal Investigator supervises Associate Investigator/s to conduct a clinical trial at a Satellite Site which is geographically remote from the Principal Investigator’s Primary Site.
The Principal Investigator remains responsible for the trial. A detailed Supervision Plan is required, in addition to a Delegation Log required by ICH GCP for all Satellite Sites regardless of experience. Trial participants may have trial visits at both the Primary and Satellite Sites, as determined by the Protocol and Supervision Plan.
The conduct of the trial is detailed under the ‘head agreement’ (Clinical Trial Research Agreement/Clinical Trial Agreement) between the Sponsor and the Principal Investigator’s Institution and a Sub-Contract between the Primary Site and the Satellite Site Institutions (see Clinical Trial Research Agreement – Tele Trials Subcontract).
Benefits
What are the benefits?
Equitable Access
Patients have equitable access to cutting edge potential new treatments
Recruitment & Retention
Potential for improvement in patient recruitment and retention
Range of Trials
Access to a wider range of clinical trials by participating as a satellite site
Support & Guidance
Assistance with clinical trial supervision plans between sites, regulatory applications and research ethics and governance submissions, contract negotiations and other sponsor requirements
Collaboration & Clusters
Increased collaboration and communication between metropolitan and rural, regional and remote hospitals as well as primary health networks through the implementation of clinical trial clusters
Capacity & Skills
Increased clinical trials capacity in Australia – clinicians and healthcare workers in rural, regional and remote healthcare settings will develop new skills and enhance existing skills in conducting clinical trials
Support
What support is available to teletrial sites?
Under the Australian Teletrial Program, Regional Clinical Trial Coordinating Centre (RCCC) teams have been established to provide state-based support.
This includes:
- Providing operational support to ensure rural, regional and remote sites
have the opportunity, capacity and capability to participate in clinical trials - Assist trial sites to establish trial specific clusters by coordinating and
completing trial cluster operational activities. - The Teletrial Support Program (TSP) that aims to support clinical research teams to participate in the Australian Teletrial Program and provides funding to sites to accelerate expansion of clinical trials to rural, regional and remote patients through the teletrial model
- Education and training opportunities are available for all interested clinical and teletrial staffs across participating states and territory in the Australian Teletrial Program through Australian Clinical Trials Education Centre (A-CTEC). Detailed instructions to access and register to free clinical and teletrial courses can be found here
How to get involved
Contact your local RCCC teletrials team:
Northern Territory
Email ATP-NT@nt.gov.au
Click here for information about Teletrials in the Northern Territory
Queensland
Email QRCCC@health.qld.gov.au
South Australia
Email ATP-SA@sa.gov.au
Click here for information about Teletrials in South Australia.
Tasmania
Victoria
Email RCCC@safercare.vic.gov.au
Click here for information about Teletrials in Victoria.
Western Australia
Email WARCCC@health.wa.gov.au
Get in touch
The Australian Teletrial Program will improve access to, and participation in, clinical trials for rural, regional and remote Australians.
