Clinical Research Associate ; Clinical Research Coordinator ; Clinical Trial ; Investigator ; Role
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the perceptions of the role performance of a clinical research coordinator (CRC) between the investigators and clinical research associates (CRAs). Data was collected using a structured questionnaire from 39 investigators and 68 CRAs in 4 hospitals from March 7 to November 30, 2011 and analyzed using descriptive statistics and a t-test. The investigators and CRAs were aware of the importance of CRC's role and they all gave the highest values for patients care management. On the other hand, the score of the role performance items showed perceptional differences between investigators and CRAs. Therefore, the development of detailed job descriptions and manuals will be needed to reduce the perceptional differences in the role performance of the CRC.