Informeret samtykke i kliniske forsøg: teknikaliteter, tillid og tætte relationer

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article explores decisions about clinical trial participation in a group of patients with chronic conditions, focusing especially on motivation for trial participation and trial information. Based on ethnographic research in four Danish hospitals in conjunction with a clinical drug trial, I argue that these patients' decisions follow logics other than those anticipated in research ethics regulations. I build on observations, interviews with physician-investigators, project nurses, patient-participants and trial sponsors, and a survey of the participants. The results indicate that for a group of experienced trial participants, trial information plays a very limited role because their decisions do not concern the trial per se but the sustainment of a close relationship with the research staff. They do not act as auto- nomous individuals weighing pros and cons based on the written information they receive. Rather, they feel dependent on the healthcare system and navigate in trust relations. For them, trial participation has become a way of living with chronic disease. I discuss implications of this situation underlining that trustful relationships constitute a precondition for high quality chronic care and research, yet the social dynamics may also lead patients to pay less attention to risks associated with trial participation.

Original languageDanish
JournalEtikk i Praksis
Volume7
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)31-46
Number of pages16
ISSN1890-3991
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Keywords

  • Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

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