Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Decision-Making By Adolescents And Parents Of Children With Cancer Regarding Health Research Participation, Kate Read, Conrad Fernandez, Jun Gao, Caron Strahlendorf, Albert Moghrabi, Rebecca Pentz, Raymond Barfield, Justin Baker, Darcy Santor, Charles Weijer, Eric Kodish

Charles Weijer

Background: Low rates of participation of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in clinical oncology trials may contribute to poorer outcomes. Factors that influence the decision of AYAs to participate in health research and whether these factors are different from those that affect the participation of parents of children with cancer.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of data from validated questionnaires provided to adolescents (>12 years old) diagnosed with cancer and parents of children with cancer at 3 sites in Canada (Halifax, Vancouver, and Montreal) and 2 in the United States (Atlanta, GA, and Memphis, TN). Respondents reported their …

Providing Research Results To Participants: Attitudes And Needs Of Adolescents And Parents Of Children With Cancer, Conrad Fernandez, Jun Gao, Caron Strahlendorf, Albert Moghrabi, Rebecca Pentz, Raymond Barfield, Justin Baker, Darcy Santor, Charles Weijer, Eric Kodish

Charles Weijer

PURPOSE: There is an increasing demand for researchers to provide research results to participants. Our aim was to define an appropriate process for this, based on needs and attitudes of participants.

METHODS: A multicenter survey in five sites in the United States and Canada was offered to parents of children with cancer and adolescents with cancer. Respondents indicated their preferred mode of communication of research results with respect to implications; timing, provider, and content of the results; reasons for and against providing results; and barriers to providing results.

RESULTS: Four hundred nine parents (including 19 of deceased children) and 86 …

Helsinki Discords: Fda, Ethics, And International Drug Trials, Jonathan Kimmelman, Charles Weijer, Eric Meslin

Charles Weijer

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Journal Instructions Regarding Institutional Review Board Approval And Conflict-Of-Interest Disclosure Between 1995 And 2005, Anne Rowan-Legg, Charles Weijer, J. Gao, C. Fernandez

Charles Weijer

OBJECTIVES: To compare 2005 and 1995 ethics guidelines from journal editors to authors regarding requirements for institutional review board (IRB) approval and conflict-of-interest (COI) disclosure.

DESIGN: A descriptive study of the ethics guidelines published in 103 English-language biomedical journals listed in the Abridged Index Medicus in 1995 and 2005. Each journal was reviewed by the principal author and one of four independent reviewers.

RESULTS: During the period, the proportion of journals requiring IRB approval increased from 42% (95% CI 32.2% to 51.2%, p<0.001) to 76% (95% CI 66.4% to 83.1%, p<0.001). In 2005, an additional 9% referred to the Declaration of Helsinki or the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors' Uniform requirements for ethical guidelines; 15% (95% CI 8.5% to 22.5%, p<0.01) provided ambiguous or no requirements. The proportion of journals requiring COI disclosure increased from 75% (95% CI 66.6% to 83.3%, p<0.05) to 94% (95% CI 89.4% to 98.6%, p<0.05); 41% had comprehensive requirements, while some addressed only funding source (6%), were vague (10%) or both (14%). Criteria for authorship rose from 40% (95% CI 30.5% to 49.5%, p<0.05) to 72% (95% CI 63.3% to 80.7%, p<0.05). Journals with higher impact factors were more likely to require IRB approval (p<0.01). Journals in anaesthesia and radiology all required IRB approval; requirements in other disciplines varied.

CONCLUSIONS: Instructions to authors regarding ethical standards have improved. Some remain incomplete, especially regarding the scope of …