{"id":616,"date":"2020-03-11T22:25:04","date_gmt":"2020-03-11T22:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pharmity.com\/?p=616"},"modified":"2024-11-04T12:19:06","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T12:19:06","slug":"things-you-need-to-know-about-delegation-of-responsibilities-in-clinical-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pharmity.com\/things-you-need-to-know-about-delegation-of-responsibilities-in-clinical-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Things You Need to Know About Delegation of Responsibilities in Clinical Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
Delegation of responsibilities related to a clinical trial is an area that is not always properly understood by the investigators. Incidents with the completion and maintenance of the Delegation Log are repeated over and over across all the research sites which suggest that the investigators did not receive appropriate training.<\/p>\r\n
This article will clearly explain what the principles of delegation are and how a Delegation Log must be completed and updated.<\/p>\r\n
ICH GCP Section 4.1.5 \u201cThe Investigator should maintain a list\u00a0 of appropriately qualified persons to whom the investigator has delegated significant trial-related duties”<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n This article clarifies what “delegation of trial-related duties” means and what are the regulatory expectations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n As discussed in one of our previous articles \u201cWhy you should be qualified to conduct clinical trials as per ICH GCP\u201d<\/a>, the Principal Investigator (PI) first needs to confirm that their team members are qualified and trained to discharge their roles in the study, and that their qualifications are documented.<\/p>\r\n The PI is required to maintain a list of persons to whom significant study duties have been delegated and it is expected to maintain it throughout the study [ICH GCP E6 (R2) 4.1.5]. Such list is commonly referred to as \u201cSite Delegation Log\u201d or \u201cSite Signature and Delegation Log\u201d, moving forward \u201cDelegation Log\u201d (DL).<\/p>\r\n A DL provides information such as the staff printed name, initials, date delegation began, date delegation ended, and what tasks were delegated to each study team member.<\/p>\r\n The Delegation Log is an official regulatory document and is always requested during audits and inspection<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n View our training on ICH GCP E6 (R2) for Investigators and Clinical Research Staff<\/a><\/p>\r\n Conducting a study is a team effort with several critical activities running at the same time therefore the PI often needs to delegate certain study related tasks to subordinates, colleagues, or other contracted third parties not under the direct supervision of the PI. Some tasks can ONLY be delegated to medical doctors. For example, adverse events and serious adverse events assessments can only be conducted by a medical doctor and not by a study nurse.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n The PI has to ensure that each individual conducts ONLY the activities delegated to them in the Delegation Log, and ONLY after they have received training on those activities.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n The PI must also ensure that study staff do not conduct any study activity prior to their recorded start date in the DL.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n Throughout the study conduct process, the PI remains responsible for the delegated tasks until they are completed, and the study is closed.<\/p>\r\n The overall responsibility of the study cannot be delegated by the PI<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n Some example of delegated tasks are:<\/p>\r\n Obtain\/Conduct informed consent<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n Enter\/correct eCRF data<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n Prepare\/dispense investigational medicinal products<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n Assess adverse events, serious adverse events<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n The sponsor can provide a DL template, or the site can use their own template if their log meets all the sponsor\u2019s requirements.<\/p>\r\nUse of Qualified Staff\u00a0<\/h2>\r\n
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Delegation of Duties: Principles of Delegation<\/h2>\r\n
Let\u2019s gather additional information in how certain study related tasks are delegated to study personnel by the Principal Investigator by reviewing the principles of delegation:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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Site Delegation Log<\/h2>\r\n