Decentralized trialsUpdated September 28, 2026

A practical guide to running a decentralized clinical trial

Decentralized and hybrid trials move some or all data collection outside the clinic: eConsent instead of a paper signature at a desk, ePRO diaries instead of a site-only visit, and coordination across more than one location. This guide covers the stack a DCT actually needs and where each piece fits.

  • eConsent for remote enrollment
  • ePRO with no app install
  • One audit trail across every touchpoint

Free sandbox · No credit card · 21 CFR Part 11 aligned

From: Capture.Study · Sleep and Recovery Study

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audit trail across consent, diary, CRF and safety data

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The DCT stack

What a decentralized trial actually needs, piece by piece

A decentralized trial is not one tool. It is the same clinical rigor as a site-based trial, delivered through remote-friendly touchpoints.

  1. 1

    Remote consent

    Participants review and sign consent on their own device, with the same legal weight as an in-person signature.

  2. 2

    Remote or hybrid enrollment

    QR-code enrollment with site-level or study-level codes, no app install needed.

  3. 3

    Between-visit data capture

    Scheduled ePRO diaries capture symptoms and adherence between any in-person or telehealth touchpoints.

  4. 4

    Site or telehealth visits

    Structured CRFs capture clinician-entered data at whichever visits your protocol still requires in person.

Between-visit data capture

Participants complete diaries without installing anything

ePRO diaries and questionnaires open from a link on the participant's own phone. There is no app to download and no separate login to remember between visits.

  • Scheduled diaries and questionnaires with skip logic and 10 question types
  • Diary completion status visible to the study team, not just the participant
  • The same platform and audit trail as consent and CRF data, not a separate diary vendor

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Before you switch

What DCT teams check before adopting a new stack

Cost

Free sandbox to build and test the full remote workflow; you pay only once you go live.

Compliance

21 CFR Part 11-aligned controls across consent, ePRO and CRF, in one audit trail.

Setup time

One platform to configure instead of separate consent, diary and EDC vendors.

Migration

Bring an existing hybrid or fully remote study across from another stack.

Support

Email support, typically under 24 hours.

Build your DCT stack free

Free sandbox with every feature. No credit card, no sales call.

Build your DCT stack free

FAQ

Questions teams ask before they switch

Something not covered here? Ask us directly.

Does Capture support a fully remote trial with no in-person visit?

Capture provides the data capture side (consent, diaries, CRFs) for remote and hybrid touchpoints. Whether your protocol needs any in-person or telehealth visit is a study design decision, not a platform limitation.

Do participants need to install an app?

No. Consent, diaries and questionnaires all open from a link on the participant's own device.

How is a remote e-signature verified?

Through a two-step process including mandatory email confirmation for participants, with investigator countersignature and a legal meaning statement required before a document is "Fully Executed".

Can we run a hybrid trial with some sites and some remote participants?

Yes. QR-code enrollment, by-site filtering and the same ePRO diaries work whether a participant is enrolled at a physical site or remotely.

Is this different from the eConsent and ePRO pages already on the site?

This guide ties those individual features together into the full DCT stack. See the dedicated eConsent and ePRO pages for feature-level detail.

What does it cost to try?

Nothing to start. The free sandbox has no credit card and no time limit.

Build your DCT stack free

Free sandbox with every feature. No credit card, no sales call.

Build your DCT stack free