Availability of this electronic data capture software will go a
long way to help our faculty and postgraduates-Prof. Tariq Rafi
KARACHI: Jinnah Sindh Medical University and Clinision an entity established by PharmEvo have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the use of electronic data capture (EDC) for its research work. Hence, JSMU becomes the first medical university of Pakistan to provide this facility to its faculty members and postgraduates. The MOU was signed on March 20th by Prof. Tariq Rafi on behalf of JSMU and Syed Jamshed Ahmed CEO of Clinision. This is another innovative initiative by Clinision to promote research culture and promote research efforts in Pakistan through Public/Private partnership. Prof. Lubna Baig Pro VC of JSMU was also present on this occasion.
JSMU and Clinision have signed an MOU to share Electronic Data Capturing system for its faculty
members and postgraduates. On extreme left, Prof.Tariq Rafi and Syed Jamshed Ahmad are
exchanging the MOU documents while on right Dr. Masood Jawaid Director Clinision is explaining
the salient features of Electronic Data Capturing system and eTrials. Sitting with him are Prof. Lubna
Baig Pro VC and Prof.Tariq Rafi VC of JSMU while on extreme right is Syed Jamshed Ahmed.
Highlighting the salient features of electronic data capture (EDC) Dr. Masood Jawaid Director Clinision said that usually for conducting research, patients data is collected on papers which is then transferred physically to the main study site from different locations. Data is then entered manually in statistical software. However, with the advances in the technology, now different software’s are used globally which digitalize the whole process to improve the efficiency and reduce the chances of errors and missing data. “eTrials”, Dr. Masood Jawaid stated is one such web based software to digitalize this entire process as per international standards. Some of the salient features of eTrials, Dr. Masood Jawaid remarked are:
- Build studies
- Create eCRFs
- Schedule patient visits
- Capture eCRF data from study sites via the web
- Monitor and manage clinical data
- Audit trials and electronic signatures
- Role based access controls
- Extra data for analysis and reporting
- Supports all phases and types of studies
- Compliant with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), 21 CFR Part-II
- Compliant with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA).
Under this MOU, Clinision will provide service of eTrials for faculty members, residents; postgraduates hands-on training of the software, build eCRF for different clinical studies and surveys besides providing e-monitoring of clinical studies. By using this software, one can audit the data; it reduces the chances of any likelihood of missing data. This software fulfills all the requirements of FDA and CRF compliance. It also ensures authenticity of the data. Through this software data is directly exported.
Syed Jamshed Ahmed CEO of Clinision speaking at the occasion said that in the days to come everything is going to be digitalized. We wish to facilitate our institutions to go for digitalization. It will help young researchers and we will be able to generate our own local data. It will help in making decisions regarding dosage of drug, patient’s relevance with the molecule being used. We through Clinision are helping to promote research ecosystem in Paksitan. In the days to come we wish to provide this service to other medical institutions all over the country.
Prof. Lubna Baig Pro VC JSMU said that Pakistan lags behind in research but this facility will prove to be a great help and she will be the first one to get enrolled as we are already conducing quit a few studies. We are delighted at this development and would use this software, she added.
Prof. Tariq Rafi Vice Chancellor of JSMU said that they give too much importance to research. During the year 2017 the faculty of this young university published 256 articles of which 78 were in Impact Factor Journals. To encourage researchers, we offer an incentive prize of Rs. 5,000/- for every article published in an Impact Factor Journal. We are making some progress and gradually research culture is being strengthened. Availability of this facility of electronic data capture software will go a long way to help our faculty and postgraduates. We have already started Online examination for dental students and shortly we will start Online examination for MBBS students as well. For this purpose we have already installed three hundred computers. All our efforts are directed at improving the quality of medical education. We have established a Research Department, employed a full time statistician to help the researchers, faculty members. He hoped that Clinision will put more efforts to introduce and offer this facility to other medical institutions particularly in neglected areas like Baluchistan and interior of Sindh. At present we have just three Impact Factor journals though we need to have much more. However, unfortunately most of the faculty members write papers jut for promotion and once they become professors, they are least interested in research. Research culture can be promoted if we have full time faculty committed and devoted to research and they are also provided support staff.
Prof. Tariq Rafi commended the services being rendered by PharmEvo but hastened to add that pharmaceutical industry too was not interested in such activities and was involved in unethical marketing practices in different ways. JSMU, Prof. Tariq Rafi said has 28 PhD in its faculty. Responding to a question Syed Jamshed Ahmad said that we have not linked these initiatives with any commercial activity. From the very first day, we decided to uphold professional ethics and we have firm belief that if you are honest, the society does appreciate you and it is evident from the overwhelming support we have received from the members of the medical profession. It has encouraged us to invest more in professional capacity building of the healthcare professionals, Mr. Jamshed Ahmed added.
Responding to a question Dr. Masood Jawaid said that it will take the faculty members about two hours to understand this system. We will chalk out a detailed training programme for the faculty and the postgraduates, he added.
Reference: Pulse International