Research Consenting Practices in Critically Ill Children: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
• Clinical Trial Methodology
• Bioethics

Background:

• Enrollment in clinical trials for critically ill children faces significant hurdles, including surrogate decision-making, time constraints, and caregiver burden.
• Effective clinical research is vital for advancing medical care for critically ill pediatric populations.

Conclusions:

• While direct research on improving consent in pediatric critical care trials is limited, identified facilitators and successful enrollment strategies should be integrated.
• Implementing alternative consent models and multicenter approaches may enhance participation in critical care research involving children.
• Addressing identified barriers and leveraging facilitators are crucial for optimizing clinical trial enrollment in this vulnerable population.