Operationalization of assent for research participation in pre-adolescent children: a scoping review
Abstract Background Seeking assent from children for participation in medical research is an ethical imperative of numerous institutions globally. However, none of these organizations provide specific guidance on the criteria or process to be used when obtaining assent. The primary objective of this...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Ethics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-022-00844-2 |
| _version_ | 1797984709120098304 |
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| author | Florence Cayouette Katie O’Hearn Shira Gertsman Kusum Menon |
| author_facet | Florence Cayouette Katie O’Hearn Shira Gertsman Kusum Menon |
| author_sort | Florence Cayouette |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Seeking assent from children for participation in medical research is an ethical imperative of numerous institutions globally. However, none of these organizations provide specific guidance on the criteria or process to be used when obtaining assent. The primary objective of this scoping review was to determine the descriptions of assent discussed in the literature and the reported criteria used for seeking assent for research participation in pre-adolescent children. Methods Medline and Embase databases were searched until November 2020 using the term “assent” in the title or abstract. Inclusion criteria were (1) studies enrolling children which specifically described operationalization of the assent process and (2) studies of the assent process which provided a description of assent. Data collected included participant information, patient criteria for seeking assent, guidelines referenced, description of assent reported, how assent was obtained and assent information presented, and reported assent rate. For qualitative articles focusing on the assent process, important themes were identified. Results A total of 116 articles were included of which 79 (68.9%) operationalized assent and 57 studies (%) described the assent process. The most commonly reported criterion used to determine the ability of a child to assent was age (35.4%, 28/79). The reported minimal age for obtaining pediatric assent varied considerably across and within jurisdictions (5–13 years; median 7.5 years, IQR 7.0, 9.75). Cognitive ability was reported as a criterion for obtaining assent in 5.1% (4/79) of studies. Assent rates were only reported in 17.7% (14/79) of citations and ranged from 32.0 to 100%. Analysis of the 57 studies describing the assent process identified several themes, including age thresholds, assessment of capacity, variable knowledge of pediatric assent and parental roles. Conclusion We found significant variation in criteria used for assessment of patient capacity, delivery of information used to obtain assent and documentation of the assent process. While we acknowledge that individual children, settings and jurisdictions may require different approaches to obtaining assent, there should be agreement on important principles to be followed with resulting common guidance on assessing capacity, delivering information and documentation of the assent process for publication. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:06:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ca278a6e2da545f9ab4006f10bf9fbd3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6939 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:06:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Ethics |
| spelling | doaj.art-ca278a6e2da545f9ab4006f10bf9fbd32022-12-22T04:38:23ZengBMCBMC Medical Ethics1472-69392022-11-0123111010.1186/s12910-022-00844-2Operationalization of assent for research participation in pre-adolescent children: a scoping reviewFlorence Cayouette0Katie O’Hearn1Shira Gertsman2Kusum Menon3Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of OttawaCHEO Research Institute, Children’s Hospital of Eastern OntarioCHEO Research Institute, Children’s Hospital of Eastern OntarioDivision of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of OttawaAbstract Background Seeking assent from children for participation in medical research is an ethical imperative of numerous institutions globally. However, none of these organizations provide specific guidance on the criteria or process to be used when obtaining assent. The primary objective of this scoping review was to determine the descriptions of assent discussed in the literature and the reported criteria used for seeking assent for research participation in pre-adolescent children. Methods Medline and Embase databases were searched until November 2020 using the term “assent” in the title or abstract. Inclusion criteria were (1) studies enrolling children which specifically described operationalization of the assent process and (2) studies of the assent process which provided a description of assent. Data collected included participant information, patient criteria for seeking assent, guidelines referenced, description of assent reported, how assent was obtained and assent information presented, and reported assent rate. For qualitative articles focusing on the assent process, important themes were identified. Results A total of 116 articles were included of which 79 (68.9%) operationalized assent and 57 studies (%) described the assent process. The most commonly reported criterion used to determine the ability of a child to assent was age (35.4%, 28/79). The reported minimal age for obtaining pediatric assent varied considerably across and within jurisdictions (5–13 years; median 7.5 years, IQR 7.0, 9.75). Cognitive ability was reported as a criterion for obtaining assent in 5.1% (4/79) of studies. Assent rates were only reported in 17.7% (14/79) of citations and ranged from 32.0 to 100%. Analysis of the 57 studies describing the assent process identified several themes, including age thresholds, assessment of capacity, variable knowledge of pediatric assent and parental roles. Conclusion We found significant variation in criteria used for assessment of patient capacity, delivery of information used to obtain assent and documentation of the assent process. While we acknowledge that individual children, settings and jurisdictions may require different approaches to obtaining assent, there should be agreement on important principles to be followed with resulting common guidance on assessing capacity, delivering information and documentation of the assent process for publication.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-022-00844-2AssentChildrenCapacity |
| spellingShingle | Florence Cayouette Katie O’Hearn Shira Gertsman Kusum Menon Operationalization of assent for research participation in pre-adolescent children: a scoping review BMC Medical Ethics Assent Children Capacity |
| title | Operationalization of assent for research participation in pre-adolescent children: a scoping review |
| title_full | Operationalization of assent for research participation in pre-adolescent children: a scoping review |
| title_fullStr | Operationalization of assent for research participation in pre-adolescent children: a scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Operationalization of assent for research participation in pre-adolescent children: a scoping review |
| title_short | Operationalization of assent for research participation in pre-adolescent children: a scoping review |
| title_sort | operationalization of assent for research participation in pre adolescent children a scoping review |
| topic | Assent Children Capacity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-022-00844-2 |
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