Paper Vs. eCOA: Hard Calculations For Easy Decisions

The initial sticker price will often guide business purchases, but there is a broader perspective that encompasses the comprehensive cost, including soft costs, downstream expenses, and unforeseen consequences. Though quick decision-makers strive to consider all these aspects, it is typically a challenging task.

When faced with the choice between investing in paper clinical outcome assessments (COAs) or electronic clinical outcome assessments (eCOAs), the seemingly lower cost of paper may make it appear as the more economical option.

Nevertheless, after accounting for all relevant factors, eCOAs, which encompass electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs), eDiaries, and electronic clinician-reported outcomes (eClinROs), consistently prove to be more financially viable than paper COAs. The question then arises: When does it become cost-effective to adopt an electronic approach? How much can one save by doing so? And under what circumstances does a paper-based approach still hold justification?

Use this calculator to compare the costs of using paper COAs or eCOAs to better answer those questions and make a decision that will best serve your organization.