From IVRS to IWRS: The evolution of Interactive Response Technology

The history of IVRS and IWRS

From enrolling patients to administering a study drug, Interactive Voice Response Systems (IVRS) and Interactive Web Response Systems (IWRS) are crucial to running a clinical trial. The tools, collectively referred to as Interactive Response Technology (IRT), have progressed from staff entering patient information over the phone to include more modern features that help a trial run smoothly.

Modern IRT systems can better anticipate a trial's supply needs, keep trial data organized, and accommodate more complex study designs. To provide more context on how this technology has advanced, here is a brief history of IRT and how it's evolved over the last several decades.

Generation 1: Interactive Voice Response Systems (IVRS)

The earliest IVR systems date back to the 1970s when phones with keypads were developed. The technology allowed users to enter information corresponding to different numbers on the phone's keypad in response to voice prompts. The keypad allowed site staff to enter a patient's information and randomize them into a trial while keeping their identity blinded. Originally, IVRS was only used to randomize patients into a clinical trial but later became the central place for drug supply chain management.

Generation 2: Interactive Web Response Systems (IWRS)

As internet access became more readily available, IVRS began to be phased out as IWR systems became the next generation of IRT. As the name suggests, IWRS works similarly to IVRS, but the information is entered through a computer instead of over the phone. These systems connect with other technologies more efficiently, allowing better communication and data sharing.

Generation 3: IRT features today

One key feature of modern IRTs involves predictive supply chain management. In a blinded trial, sites do not know how many study drugs to order, so IWR systems work automatically. Modern systems can also recalculate study drug needs when new patients randomize or existing patients drop out and can use an algorithm to predict changes before they happen. Modern IWR systems can also work better with certain study designs, such as ones that provide direct-to-patient drug shipping. 

IRT systems can also better communicate with a site's other systems, such as electronic data capturing, patient-reported outcomes, and lab distribution systems. Different IWRS offer integration with different technologies, so understanding their features can be helpful when deciding which is the right choice.

If you're looking for an IWRS vendor, we've compiled a list and a guide on questions to ask when making your decision. When you're ready to start finding the right patients for your trial, Antidote is here to help.