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Subjects' expectations in neuroimaging research
Matthew P Kirschen1, Agnieszka Jaworska, Judy Illes
1Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94304-5748, USA.
Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging : JMRI
|January 18, 2006
Summary
Participants in neuroimaging research expect incidental findings to be detected and reported, even when scanned for research purposes only. Clear communication during informed consent is crucial for aligning expectations with research scope.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging Research
- Medical Ethics
- Participant Expectations
Background:
- Neuroimaging studies often generate incidental findings unrelated to the research question.
- Managing these unexpected findings raises ethical and practical considerations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate participant attitudes and expectations regarding incidental findings in neuroimaging research.
- To understand whether participants expect detection and reporting of abnormalities found during research scans.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 105 healthy control subjects who had prior neuroimaging research experience.
- Assessed expectations about detecting and reporting incidental clinical findings on research brain scans.
- Compared responses from participants scanned in medical versus nonmedical settings.
Main Results:
- 54% of participants expected research scans to detect abnormalities.
- >90% desired communication of any findings.
- 59% preferred findings to be communicated by a research-affiliated physician.
- Responses were consistent across medical and nonmedical scanning environments.
Conclusions:
- Informed consent processes must clearly address incidental findings.
- Ensuring participant expectations align with research scope is vital.
- Clear communication protocols are essential for ethical neuroimaging research.