Factors influencing comprehension of information for informed consent: ethical implications for nursing research

Empirical studies on comprehension of information for informed consent show that research subjects often do not understand major portions of that to which they have consented. This raises the ethical question of whether or not the consent process has accomplished its purpose--the protection of the individual's right to self-determination. This article focuses on the following factors derived from the research literature that influence comprehension of information for informed consent: the nature of information, method of presentation of information, demographic factors, and personal factors. From these factors and methodological considerations, ethical implications for nursing research are addressed.