SQN: Mobile tech will propel patient engagement, participation, and oversight ‘not previously possible’
SQN Health – which joins SQN’s Clinical Data Ecosystem – is an app-based solution accessible through iOS or Android smartphones and tablets, as well as computers.
Pauline Allen, business support manager, SQN, told us the release comes largely in response to the industry's desire for greater involvement of the patient in clinical trials, as reflected in the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) call for patient centricity.
According to the clinical biometrics contract research organization (CRO), the app enables patients to input clinical trial data, fill out online diaries, record medication use and interact with the trial's clinical team.
The new app also gives patients the ability to freely report on how their condition affects them and includes a symptom tracker and wellness section, which captures information such as sleep, stress, and exercise data, among others, Allen said.
“[The app] gives patients more awareness and control of their wellbeing, greater clinical trial involvement, and provides health insights to themselves and the clinical trial team not possible using traditional methods,” she added.
As for sponsor companies, data gathered in the app provides “a much better picture of how the condition and trial might affect the patient and allows them greater safety monitoring and compliance oversight against the trial protocol,” Allen explained.
“The real-time and ongoing patient and data oversight enhances trial management and ultimately benefits the patient and clinical development strategies,” she added.
Shiyan Caan, SQN business development and marketing coordinator, said the company hopes to give control back to the patient, and ultimately, bridge the gap between researcher and patient.
‘An exciting prospect’
Caan said 2018 is a very exciting year for the company, one which began with a company refresh as SQN became SQN Clinical to reflect its expanded service offering.
The company plans to release several new innovative technologies that will add to the SQN Health Ecosystem, Caan explained.
Moving forward, the company is working with other specialist technology providers including the support and integration of wearable devices. Allen explained the vision of broadening the data collection options from the clinic setting to the home and workplace.
“You should be able to make clinical trials much more available globally to everybody,” she added. “Current and evolving mobile-based technology will liberate data collection options and allow patient engagement, participation, and oversight not previously possible.”
“That’s an exciting prospect,” Allen said.
