Differentiating Factors of Clinical Trial Sites in Portugal

Abstract

Clinical research is developing exponentially in Portugal. It provides patients with early access to innovative molecules, helping to improve healthcare provision, the life expectancy and quality of life of the Portuguese population. However, the number of clinical trials carried out in Portugal is significantly lower than in other countries of a similar size, and the full potential of the country has not yet been achieved. Portugal has lost competitiveness in this area, and it is therefore necessary to invest in Research and Development (R&D).
By answering questionnaires developed for this purpose, professionals from research teams, promoters and contracted research organizations based in Portugal rated in terms of relevance, on a Likert scale, different aspects that, from their perspective, can contribute to a clinical trial site of excellence, also identified the factors that constitute barriers to their development. The factors that are an impediment to the selection of national sites include insufficient allocation of human resources, inadequate facilities and equipment, constraints in recruiting participants and poor dedication to the quality of procedures. However, Portugal has a great capacity for improvement, with teams with an increasing level of academic qualifications and time commitment. It is essential to monitor the factors that may decide the selection of Portuguese clinical trial sites so that our country becomes competitive and an international reference in clinical research.

Keywords: clinical trial sites, research team, patient recruitment, facilities and equipment, quality of procedures.