Informed consent among nursing students participating in biomedical research

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Research Ethics
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• Informed consent is a cornerstone of ethical biomedical research.
• Participants must understand the study's purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, and their rights.
• Assessing participant comprehension is vital for ensuring genuine informed consent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the understanding and knowledge of nursing trainees regarding a cohort study on tuberculosis.
• To identify gaps in comprehension related to research protocols, procedures, and voluntary participation.

Main Methods:

• A structured questionnaire was administered to 138 nursing trainees.
• The study investigated participant awareness of research enrollment, study focus (tuberculosis), blood collection details, and voluntariness of participation.

Main Results:

• 97% knew they were in a research protocol, but only 78% identified it as a tuberculosis study.
• Awareness of blood collection was high (two-thirds), but details on timing and quantity were often unknown.
• 59% consulted others, and only 73% felt their participation was fully voluntary.

Conclusions:

• Even among healthcare trainees, there are significant gaps in understanding key aspects of research participation.
• Emphasis on assessing both knowledge and comprehension is necessary to uphold the principles of informed consent.
• Healthcare institutions must reinforce informed consent procedures to ensure participants' rights and understanding.