Validation and equivalency of electronic clinical outcomes assessment systems
<p>The US food and drug administration (FDA) has long called for clinical outcomes assessments (COA), such as patient-reported outcomes (PRO), to be ‘fit-for-purpose’ meaning the COA has been validated to support the context of use. The FDA’s recent patient-focused drug development guidance series has renewed the importance of ensuring that COA is ‘fit-for-purpose’ and valid. In addition, the FDA has recommended that COA be collected electronically and that the electronic (eCOA) system and devices also be validated. Advancing technology requires eCOA systems and devices to evolve; eCOA devices may change over time. As bring your own device (BYOD) models gain popularity and acceptance, devices may also be mixed within trials. Changes in eCOA devices or mixing devices may require equivalence testing to prove validity across platforms. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the different types of validation at both the assessment level and the eCOA system (device) level to help clinical trial sponsors determine the appropriate level of validation or equivalence testing required for COA used in their clinical trials. </p>