Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026
08:42
A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research
Published on: July 31, 2017
Empirically-derived Knowledge on Adolescent Assent to Pediatric Biomedical Research
David G Scherer1, Janet L Brody, Robert D Annett
1Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 610 Tobin Hall, 135 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003.
AJOB Primary Research
|August 6, 2013
Summary
Adolescent assent in biomedical research is complex, influenced by maturity and social context. Understanding psychological factors and decision-making dynamics is crucial for ethical participation and respecting autonomy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Bioethics
- Clinical Research Ethics
- Adolescent Psychology
Background:
- Growing demand for pediatric participation in biomedical research fuels empirical studies on assent.
- Adolescent assent research has identified key psychological and social variables, despite methodological challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review empirical literature on adolescent assent in therapeutic research (asthma, cancer).
- To examine adolescent competencies, risk/benefit perceptions, and social context factors in research decision-making.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on adolescent assent in pediatric therapeutic research.
- Analysis of psychological and social variables influencing research participation.
Main Results:
- Adolescent assent capacity varies with maturity and social context.
- Intercorrelation between psychological capacities and decision-making in family/medical contexts is significant.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents' decision-making capacity for research participation is context-dependent.
- Physician-investigator relationships can clarify risks/benefits for informed adolescent assent.
- Future research should focus on contextual and developmental factors to improve research protocols.
Related Concept Videos
01:56Ethics in Research
Today, scientists agree that good research is ethical in nature and is guided by a basic respect for human dignity and safety. However, this has not always been the case. Modern researchers must demonstrate that the research they perform is ethically sound.
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
01:15Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients
Bioavailability studies are essential for evaluating a drug's therapeutic efficacy and understanding its absorption patterns under various physiological conditions. Conducting such studies on target patient populations provides more relevant data by simulating real-world disease states. However, practical challenges often necessitate the use of young, healthy adult volunteers as study subjects.Patients may exhibit altered drug absorption patterns due to the effects of the disease itself,...
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
01:08Obedience
According to obedience research, we may harm others under the forceful pressures of an authority figure (Milgram, 1974). How about if the inappropriate orders were delivered with less force? The increasing interdependence between nurses and physicians compelled Hofling and his colleagues to explore nurses’ reactions to a potentially harmful medical request made by the perceived authority figure, the doctor (Hofling, Brotzman, Dalrymple, Graves, & Pierce, 1966). In this situation, obedience...
01:17Ethical Dilemmas I
Ethical dilemmas in nursing are of utmost importance, as they often arise from the tension between adhering to core ethical principles and the practical realities of healthcare delivery. These dilemmas require nurses to navigate complex situations where competing ethical considerations pull them in different directions.
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...