O D Wolthers1. 1. Children's Clinic Randers, Dytmaersken 9, DK-8900 Randers, Denmark. akk.odws@dadlnet.dk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Knowledge about assent or dissent of children to non-therapeutic research is poor. OBJECTIVES: To assess sociodemographic characteristics in healthy children and adolescents who were invited to participate in non-therapeutic research, to evaluate their motives for assent or dissent and their understanding of the information given. METHODS: A total of 1281 healthy children and adolescents six to sixteen years of age were invited to participate in a non-therapeutic study and a questionnaire. RESULTS: Assenting children were motivated by a desire to help sick children (n = 638, 98%) and to gain experience with participating in a research study (n = 503, 82%). Dissenting children made their decision because of worries about having a blood (n = 193, 46%) or a urine sample (n = 94, 26%) taken or because of worries about a doctor's examination (n = 136, 33%). Fewer children in the assent group (n = 166, 25%) than in the dissent group (136, 33%) worried about the doctor's examination (p = 0.01). In the assent and dissent group, 568 (86%) and 343 (85%) children, respectively, said they were able to understand some or all of the written information (p = 0.42), and 650 (97%) and 330 (98%), respectively, were able to understand some or all of the verbal information (p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Sociodemographic characteristics may not influence healthy children's decision to volunteer for non-therapeutic research. Assenting children have altruistic and educational motives, whereas worries about procedures may cause children to dissent. A great majority of school children and adolescents feel capable of understanding and giving assent or dissent to non-therapeutic research.
BACKGROUND: Knowledge about assent or dissent of children to non-therapeutic research is poor. OBJECTIVES: To assess sociodemographic characteristics in healthy children and adolescents who were invited to participate in non-therapeutic research, to evaluate their motives for assent or dissent and their understanding of the information given. METHODS: A total of 1281 healthy children and adolescents six to sixteen years of age were invited to participate in a non-therapeutic study and a questionnaire. RESULTS: Assenting children were motivated by a desire to help sick children (n = 638, 98%) and to gain experience with participating in a research study (n = 503, 82%). Dissenting children made their decision because of worries about having a blood (n = 193, 46%) or a urine sample (n = 94, 26%) taken or because of worries about a doctor's examination (n = 136, 33%). Fewer children in the assent group (n = 166, 25%) than in the dissent group (136, 33%) worried about the doctor's examination (p = 0.01). In the assent and dissent group, 568 (86%) and 343 (85%) children, respectively, said they were able to understand some or all of the written information (p = 0.42), and 650 (97%) and 330 (98%), respectively, were able to understand some or all of the verbal information (p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Sociodemographic characteristics may not influence healthy children's decision to volunteer for non-therapeutic research. Assenting children have altruistic and educational motives, whereas worries about procedures may cause children to dissent. A great majority of school children and adolescents feel capable of understanding and giving assent or dissent to non-therapeutic research.
Authors: M van Stuijvenberg; M H Suur; S de Vos; G C Tjiang; E W Steyerberg; G Derksen-Lubsen; H A Moll Journal: Arch Dis Child Date: 1998-08 Impact factor: 3.791
Authors: Janet L Brody; Charles W Turner; Robert D Annett; David G Scherer; Jeanne Dalen Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2012-03-03 Impact factor: 5.012