HealthMark Multimedia Announces Grant from NIH to Develop Onlined Informed Consent for Clinical Trials
HealthMark Multimedia, LLC, has been awarded a National Cancer Institute Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to produce an online product to facilitate clinical trial investigators in the development of informed consent documents and a media-enhanced information and educational support toward greater informed consent for potential clinical trial subjects.
Washington DC, (PRWEB) March 11, 2005 -- HealthMark Multimedia announces receipt of SBIR grant from NIH to develop a multimedia-enhanced online informed consent for clinical trials.
HealthMark Multimedia, LLC, has been awarded a National Cancer Institute Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to produce an online product to facilitate clinical trial investigators in the development of informed consent documents and a media-enhanced information and educational support toward greater informed consent for potential clinical trial subjects.
The investigator arm of ConsentSolutions will be developed to provide a media-enhanced database of the basic elements of an online clinical trial informed consent document. Examples of the interactive elements include: dictionary terms in audio-visual format, as well as other tested patient information and decision-making tools for the Learn More section. The database will be formulated to meet specific institutional IRB requirements. After development and IRB approval, each informed consent document will reside on a secure server with access restricted by personal access codes. In addition, approved informed consent documents will be able to be amended to reflect changes in the protocol. A back office component will be developed to allow clinical trial investigators to monitor patients' use of the online informed consent by tracking time, date, and use data.
The patient arm of ConsentSolutions will be developed to provide qualified potential subjects with the IRB-approved text for the clinical trial informed consent with options for audio-visual presentation in multiple languages. Clear, concise information and interactive tools to help users address decisions about clinical trials will be supported in a linked Learn More section. Anticipated patient tools include: self-assessment questions to test understanding, an audio-visual dictionary, questions for the health care provider, and a decision-making grid. The interactive tools will be designed to help patients to reach a decision by drawing on their own values and preferences. Users will be able to download the informed consent document and the tools for printing.
After initial development, ConsentSolutions will be tested against the traditional paper-based informed consent for ease of use and level of patient preference; quality and quantity of subject comprehension; relative percentages of enrollment, compliance, and retention of study subjects; and comparisons of direct and indirect costs. Published data indicate that the multimedia-enhanced online informed consent double enrollment rates, that knowledge is increased 40%, 35% fewer candidates required screening due to decreased drop-out rates; and more efficient use of costly researchers' time.
About HealthMark Multimedia
HealthMark Multimedia, LLC, a certified woman-owned business, combines graphics, audio, video and text to develop award-winning interactive, user-friendly software and Web sites for:
• patient treatment and self-care decisions
• continuing education for health care professionals
• disease prevention and health promotion materials for parents and children
HealthMark Multimedia uses an established network of medical experts, as well as patients and lay caregivers to review and test products for accuracy, relevance, and usefulness.
Since 1997 HealthMark Multimedia has been funded by the National Cancer Institute, Centers for Disease Control, American Psychological Association, and other public and private organizations needing specialized health communications.
For further information about the company or its products, contact HealthMark Multimedia: 1828 L Street, NW, #250, Washington, DC 20036; Telephone: 202-265-0033; Fax: 202-448-6188. HealthMark Multimedia's home page can be found at www.HealthMarkMultimedia.com.
Contact: Susan Brink, Principal
HealthMark Multimedia, LLC
PH: 202-265-0033, Ext. 201
Email: sbrink@HealthMarkMultimedia.com
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