Informed Consent

Each subject should sign an informed consent document before data collection begins.

Basic Elements of Informed Consent (from 45 CFR 46.116)

In seeking informed consent, the following information shall be provided to each subject:

• A statement that the study involves research, an explanation of the purposes of the research and the expected duration of the subject’s participation, a description of the procedures to be followed, and identification of any procedures which are experimental.
• A description of any reasonably foreseeable risks or discomforts to the subject. (NOTE: This includes any information about procedures that might make a subject hesitant to participate.

• A description of any benefits to the subject or to others which may reasonably be expected from the research.

• A disclosure of appropriate alternative procedures or courses of treatment, if any, that might be advantageous to the subject.

• A statement describing the extent, if any, to which confidentiality of records identifying the subject will be maintained.

• For research involving more than minimal risk, an explanation as to whether any compensation and an explanation as to whether any medical treatments are available if injury occurs and, if so, what they consist of, or where further information may be obtained.

• An explanation of whom to contact for answers to pertinent questions about the research and research subjects’ rights, and whom to contact in the event of a research-related injury to the subject.

• A statement that participation is voluntary, that refusal to participate will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which the subject is otherwise entitled, and that the subject may discontinue participation at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which the subject is entitled.

The informed consent document should be submitted as an attachment with the application by the principal investigator.