title: Managing multicentre clinical trials with open source.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multicentre clinical trials are challenged by high administrative burden, data management pitfalls and costs. This leads to a reduced enthusiasm and commitment of the physicians involved and thus to a reluctance in conducting multicentre clinical trials.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to develop a web-based open source platform to support a multi-centre clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed on Drupal, an open source software distributed under the terms of the General Public License, a web-based, multi-centre clinical trial management system with the design science research approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This system was evaluated by user-testing and well supported several completed and on-going clinical trials and is available for free download.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Open source clinical trial management systems are capable in supporting multi-centre clinical trials by enhancing efficiency, quality of data management and collaboration.
authors: Division of Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Swiss HPB Center, University Hospital Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland .
authors: Dimitri Aristotle
authors: DA
authors: Raptis
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Mettler
authors: Michael Alexander
authors: MA
authors: Fischer
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Patak
authors: Mickael
authors: M
authors: Lesurtel
authors: Dilmurodjon
authors: D
authors: Eshmuminov
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: de Rougemont
authors: Rolf
authors: R
authors: Graf
authors: Pierre-Alain
authors: PA
authors: Clavien
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Breitenstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic / Q000191:economics; D011871:Radiology; D012107:Research Design; D012984:Software