ObvioHealth aims to ‘reduce friction’ in DCTs with engagement suite
Virtual Research Organization (VRO) ObvioHealth’s new virtual engagement suite includes a mobile app, ePRO tools, artificial intelligence (AI) enabled remote monitoring devices, and virtual one-on-one support.
ObvioHealth, CEO and co-founder, Ivan Jarry told us that the ObvioGo suite increases patient compliance and retention by “reducing friction wherever it crops up in the patient journey.”
Jarry stated, “One of the biggest pain points in the DCT space is around the complexity of today’s trials which might include site visits, tele visits, ePROs, and digital devices used to capture vital signs – all in one study design. While such a study may be more patient-centric, it can also be an operational nightmare for the site and study administration teams.”
Streamlining workflows
Because of the potential “operational nightmare”, Jarry said, the ObvioGo streamlines workflows and works to remove siloes to provide stakeholders with more accurate data.
“The ability to see real-time patient data, especially from wearables and sensors, allows us to spot potential adverse events. This is a capability the industry never had prior to the advent of DCT platforms such as ObvioGo, and it’s a huge step forward for the safety of clinical trial patients,” said Jarry.
The VRO’s experience with DCT’s, according to Jarry, influenced ObvioHealth to create a suite that makes patients feel supported and adds the Clinical Oversight and Coordination Hub (COACH) team for one-on-one support.
ObvioGo’s COACH team members are trained on the protocols of the studies of which they have responsibility for. The team also uses AI to best support participants.
“Our COACH team is enabled by the AI functionalities integrated into the study management module of the ObvioGo platform which automatically surfaces relevant information, such as non-compliance and triggers and alert to the COACH team so a member can reach out to the patient and get them back on track,” said Jarry.
“When patients encounter friction in the clinical trial process, friction wins; patients get distracted and fail to complete study tasks. The more seamless the experience, the more likely patients are to make it to completion,” he added.
Jarry explained that the suite was built to include patient motivators and behavioral nudges, “we have identified three motivators to encourage patients to stay engaged in trials.”
These motivators include gamification, “to engage the completive spirit in many patients”, an information feedback loop to provide participants with their own health data “for those motivated by better health”, and “messaging around the purpose of the study to encourage participants who have altruistic motivations.”
The app uses digital behaviors for user experience (UX), which according to Jarry, “is more than just a buzz word. It is a data-driven analysis of how people behave digitally.”
Part of the UX that is incorporated into the app includes features like single-tap answers and push notifications to remind participants to complete tasks and reduce patient burden.
