PaTH’s Online Consent Procedures
As PaTH-affiliated projects enroll study participants, we are committed to ensuring people who join our studies have the information they need to decide for themselves whether or not to consent to participate – that is, to say “yes” or “no” to being part of the research.
In order for participants to truly consent, they need adequate information about the study, and they need to be able to understand this information and use it to weigh the pros and cons of participating. They must also be able to freely and voluntarily communicate their decision.
At PaTH, we want to utilize modern technology to offer people convenient options as they consider joining studies. We realize, though, that online communication can make it more challenging to know if people truly understand the information they are given and to provide help when needed.
To address this, members of the Institutional Review Board of four PaTH institutions had a series of conversations together with patient partners and researchers to develop a clear and thorough consent process that is online, standardized, and features additional consent awareness questions.
What is an Institutional Review Board?
An IRB is a committee charged by the U.S. government with protecting the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in research.