Type of publication:
Conference abstract
Author(s):
*Essra Y.; *Angela Y.; *Rachel R.;
Citation:
International Journal of Pharmacy Practice. Conference: Royal Pharmaceutical Society Annual Conference, RPS 2025. London United Kingdom. 33(Supplement 1) (pp i17), 2025. Date of Publication: 01 Nov 2025
Abstract:
Introduction: Clinical trials are the gold standard for testing pharmacological, behavioural and policy interventions [1]. In hospital settings, trial setup can be complex, requiring coordination across multiple teams, specialties, and environments. For trials involving InvestigationalMedicinal Products (IMPs), pharmacy departments must align their processes with other research teams in a transparent, efficient, and standardised manner [2]. One approach to achieving this is using a research management system. Aim(s): To evaluate the implementation of a digital research management system (EDGE) in streamlining and standardising the setup of clinical trials involving pharmacy and other departments. Methodology: As this was a service evaluation, ethical approval was not required. Retrospective quantitative data from between 01 May 2022- 28 May 2025 were extracted from the research management system at a single NHS hospital trust. Data were analysed to assess the number of pharmacy workflows set up, turnaround times and the range of clinical trials supported. Qualitative stakeholder feedback on experiences of implementation were also sought from research nurse colleagues and the trust governance and quality assurance lead. Result(s): Between 2022-2025, four pharmacy-specific workflows were developed and implemented. These were: Expression of interest/feasibility; Amendment implementation; Pharmacy site file audit and Trial closure and archiving. A total of 161 workflows were completed across 62 different clinical trials. Notably 67% of pharmacy workflows were completed ahead of their target timelines. Feedback from research nurses and the trust research and governance lead was positive. The implementation of the pharmacy workflows provided greater transparency for pharmacy set-up and management of clinical trials facilitating better collaborative relationships between the team. Use of the workflows also lead to reduction in e-mail correspondence with better ability to track progress with different tasks and provide visibility to obstacles and blockers. Discussion(s): The implementation of a research management system significantly improved the efficiency, transparency, and coordination of pharmacy workflows in clinical trial setup and management. Positive stakeholder feedback and early completion of most workflows suggest that digital tools can enhance interdisciplinary collaboration in research settings. A key limitation is this evaluation was limited to a single NHS trust and relied on retrospective data and informal stakeholder feedback, which may not fully capture the broader impact or generalisability of the findings.
DOI: 10.1093/ijpp/riaf093.092
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