The perspectives of researchers on obtaining informed consent in developing countries.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
The doctrine of informed consent (IC) exists to protect individuals from exploitation or harm. This study into IC was carried out to investigate how different researchers perceived the process whereby researchers obtained consent. It also examined researchers' perspectives on what constituted IC, and how different settings influenced the process.

METHODS:
The study recorded in-depth interviews with 12 lecturers and five doctoral students, who had carried out research in developing countries, at a leading school of public health in the United Kingdom. A purposive, snowballing approach was used to identify interviewees.

RESULTS:
Although the concept and application of the doctrine of IC should have been the same, irrespective of where the research was carried out, the process of obtaining it had to be different. The setting had to be taken into consideration and the autonomy of the subject had to be respected at all times. In areas of high illiteracy, and where understanding of the subject was likely to be a problem, there was an added responsibility placed on the researcher to devise innovative ways of carrying out the study, taking into consideration the peculiarities of the environment.

CONCLUSION:
The ethical issues for IC were the same, irrespective of where the research was conducted. However, because the backgrounds, setting, and knowledge of populations differed, there was the need to be similarly sensitive in obtaining consent. The problems of obtaining genuine IC were not limited to developing countries.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Newton, Sam K (SK); Appiah-Poku, John (J);

Affiliation: Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana. samkofinewton(-atsign-)yahoo.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Developing world bioethics (Dev World Bioeth), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Apr; vol 7 (issue 1) : pp 19-24

Dates: Created 2007/03/14; Completed 2007/09/25;

PMID: 17355328, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Ethics, Research
Great Britain
Humans
Informed Consent - ethics
Research Personnel - psychology

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.