Experience, Perception, and Attitudes Toward Decentralized Clinical Trial (DCT) Among Clinical Research Coordinators and Clinical Research Associates in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study

Decentralized clinical trial (DCT)s have emerged as a promising approach to increase access, efficiency, and patient-centricity in clinical research. Although global regulatory bodies have encouraged the adoption of digital trial components such as electronic consent and remote monitoring, empirical evidence on workforce readiness and acceptance remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate experience, perceptions, and attitudes toward DCTs among South Korean clinical trial professionals. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 383 clinical research professionals, including clinical research coordinator (CRC)s and clinical research associates (CRA)s. The questionnaire measured experience with eight core DCT component and assessed perceptions across seven domains, including feasibility, satisfaction, and outlook. Group differences were analyzed based on job role, organizational affiliation, career level, and prior DCT experience. Statistical analyses included Kruskal–Wallis, ANOVA, logistic regression, and linear regression. The most experienced DCT components were electronic informed consent (43.1%), remote enrollment (44.4%), and ePRO (43.1%). CRCs and mid-career professionals (13–60 months) reported higher engagement and more favorable perceptions compared to other groups. Regression analyses showed that prior DCT experience significantly predicted higher scores in perceived ease of implementation, satisfaction, and expansion expectations (β > 0.5). These findings underscore that DCT adoption is not solely a technical issue but depends on organizational context, job role, and experiential learning. Mid-career professionals represent a critical target group for capacity-building. Although the study focused on South Korea, the results may inform global efforts to design scalable and context-sensitive DCT implementation strategies.