What Is An IRT System In Clinical Research?

The speaker introduces the term IRT (Interactive Response Technology) and its predecessors: IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System) and IWRS (Interactive Web Response System). Initially, studies used IVRS, where staff would call in from a landline to screen, randomize, and dispense medication to patients, receiving confirmations by fax or email. This quickly evolved to IWRS, which offered the same functionalities via a website.

The video explains that IRT is essentially the same as IWRS but with advanced integrations. The key differences include integration with Electronic Data Capture (EDC) systems and the capability to include ePRO (electronic patient-reported outcomes). While these integrations aim to streamline processes, they often lead to added complexity and micromanagement for site coordinators, especially with ePROs.

Despite its advancements, IRT has not fully integrated other crucial aspects like lab results, IRB access, or ECG data, requiring sites to manage multiple vendors (8-10 per study). The speaker notes that while IRT was intended to simplify things, sponsors have used its ease of use to demand more from coordinators, including daily data points for ePROs, further increasing their workload.

The video touches on the integration of central recruitment campaigns into IRTs, though the speaker's personal experience shows minimal referrals through this method. The overall sentiment is that while these tools are evolving towards consolidation, they are not yet fully integrated. Currently, IRT is primarily a more advanced version of IWRS, heavily featuring electronic patient-reported outcomes.