Series of research projects to evaluate approaches for improving
patient understanding of clinical trials
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
ICON plc, (NASDAQ:ICLR) a global provider of drug development
solutions and services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical
device industries, today announced that it is sponsoring a series of
research projects, led by Professor Baruch Fischhoff, Ph.D., at Carnegie
Mellon University (CMU), to find new ways to improve information
comprehension and retention by clinical trial participants. The research
tools will include multimedia solutions from ICON's Firecrest suite of
products.
A leading authority on behavioural sciences in healthcare, Professor
Baruch Fischhoff, Ph.D., is the Howard Heinz University Professor in the
departments of Social and Decision Sciences and of Engineering and
Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. A cognitive psychologist by
training, Professor Fischhoff's research focuses on risk communication,
analysis and management, informed consent, security and environmental
protection.
"We are looking into ways to help patients make well-informed decisions
about whether to participate in clinical trials," said Professor
Fischhoff. "Our research will take advantage of advances in behavioural
decision research and information technology to design and evaluate
approaches for ensuring that patients understand the potential risks and
benefits of joining trials."
"Successful patient enrolment in clinical trials is dependent on an
informed consent process that thoroughly and consistently explains the
trial and instils trust in the patient," commented Frances Abeton, VP
Firecrest, at ICON plc. "The CMU research projects are designed to
scientifically test, measure and validate what patients need in order to
ensure truly informed consent. We also want to know how the presentation
of clinical trial information affects patient understanding, confidence
and trust."
Following scientific peer review, the results of these studies will be
accessible to the public and will influence the development of new ICON
innovations, including a range of study management tools from Firecrest.
Firecrest tools include investigator training, patient recruitment and
retention services, eConsent, mobile data capture and an integrated
patient and investigator portal, which greatly improve the compliance,
consistency and quality of study-related activities by study personnel.
About ICON plc
ICON plc is a global provider of drug
development solutions and services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology
and medical device industries. The company specialises in the strategic
development, management and analysis of programs that support clinical
development - from compound selection to Phase I-IV clinical studies.
With headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, ICON currently, operates from 83
locations in 38 countries and has approximately 10,600 employees.
Further information is available at www.iconplc.com
More
information about ICON's Firecrest solutions is available at: www.iconplc.com/technology/firecrest/.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These
statements are based on management's current expectations and
information currently available, including current economic and industry
conditions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or
actual results, and actual results, developments and business decisions
may differ from those stated in this press release. The forward-looking
statements are subject to future events, risks, uncertainties and other
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
projected in the statements, including, but not limited to, the ability
to enter into new contracts, maintain client relationships, manage the
opening of new offices and offering of new services, the integration of
new business mergers and acquisitions, as well as economic and global
market conditions and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time
to time in SEC reports filed by ICON, all of which are difficult to
predict and some of which are beyond our control. For these reasons, you
should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements when
making investment decisions. The word "expected" and variations of such
words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are only as of the date they are
made and we do not undertake any obligation to update publicly any
forward-looking statement, either as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise. More information about the risks and uncertainties
relating to these forward-looking statements may be found in SEC reports
filed by ICON, including its Form 20-F, F-1, S-8 and F-3, which are
available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
ICON/ICLR-G
ICON Media Contact
Rebecca Power
Weber Shandwick
Tel:
+44 (0) 207 067 0866
Email: RPower@webershandwick.com
Source: ICON plc
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