The Study of Education and Qualification for the Maintenance of Clinical Research Associate (CRA) Professionalism

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study is to investigate perspectives on the quality and validity of the current clinical research associate (CRA) education program. The trainee program of other healthcare professions including medical doctors, registered nurses, and pharmacists, has been already reviewed as an advance research. Thus, the current study evaluates the CRA education system to assist in building a more suitable CRA education infrastructure in the future. METHODS: A questionnaire was handed out to CRAs with at least 3 months working experience among 30 pharmaceutical corporations, and 10 Contract Research Organizations (CROs) affiliated with the Korean Pharmaceutical Association and the Korean Clinical Research Committee. A total of 118 questionnaires were utilized for data analysis. RESULTS: The poll shows that 93.2 % of the survey participants consider the role of a CRA as a specialized healthcare profession and 58.6 % of those respondents reason that becoming a CRA requires specialized knowledge. 95.9 % of survey participants attend a CRA trainee program for the maintenance of CRA professionalism. The respondents are inclined to attend the Government hosted CRA education program. 59.3 % of survey participants answered that implementing a CRA qualification system is necessary to establish a CRA specialty validation. CONCLUSION: The current study demonstrates the importance of qualification and what is necessary for being a CRA. The study result will provide a guideline for those who wish to become a CRA as part of their career. In addition, the result will also be used in developing an improved CRA education program in the future.