Improving the inclusion of an under-served group in trials: development and implementation of the INCLUDE Impaired Capacity to Consent Framework.

Adults lacking capacity to consent Cognitive impairment Inclusivity Trial methodology Under-served groups

Journal

Trials
ISSN: 1745-6215
Titre abrégé: Trials
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101263253

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
25 Jan 2024
Historique:
received: 17 03 2023
accepted: 18 01 2024
medline: 26 1 2024
pubmed: 26 1 2024
entrez: 25 1 2024
Statut: epublish

Résumé

For the potential benefits of trials to reach all that they should, trials must be designed to ensure that those taking part reflect the population who will receive the intervention. However, adults with impaired capacity to consent are frequently excluded from trials - partly because researchers are unfamiliar with the legal and ethical frameworks and lack the necessary methodological expertise. Researchers identified a need for guidance on designing more inclusive trials. Building on the NIHR INCLUDE initiative, we developed the INCLUDE Impaired Capacity to Consent Framework to help researchers design inclusive trials. The framework was developed over five phases: (1) establishing the scope and content of the framework and adapting the INCLUDE Ethnicity Framework for this population; (2) scoping the relevance of the framework to different populations and piloting in a range of trials; (3) consulting people living with impairing conditions and carers to explore their views about the framework and identify missing content areas; (4) refining the framework; and (5) the development of an implementation toolkit of resources to support researchers using the framework. The framework has two parts: a set of four key questions to help researchers identify who should be included in their trial, and a series of worksheets covering intervention design, recruitment and consent processes, data collection and analysis, and public involvement and dissemination. It is supported by a summary of the ethical and legal frameworks and a website of resources on capacity and consent. Implementation resources include infographics and animations, a library of completed frameworks, and facilitated workshops for researchers. The framework and toolkit were launched at a webinar (November 2022), with polling demonstrating an increase in attendees' awareness about research involving adults lacking capacity. A post-webinar survey found that stakeholders viewed the framework and toolkit as valuable tools to facilitate greater inclusion of this under-served population in trials. The framework is available online: https://www.capacityconsentresearch.com/include-impaired-capacity-to-consent-framework.html . The INCLUDE Impaired Capacity to Consent Framework and implementation toolkit can support researchers to design more inclusive trials and other types of research studies. Further engagement, including with funders who are key to ensuring uptake, and evaluation is needed.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
For the potential benefits of trials to reach all that they should, trials must be designed to ensure that those taking part reflect the population who will receive the intervention. However, adults with impaired capacity to consent are frequently excluded from trials - partly because researchers are unfamiliar with the legal and ethical frameworks and lack the necessary methodological expertise. Researchers identified a need for guidance on designing more inclusive trials. Building on the NIHR INCLUDE initiative, we developed the INCLUDE Impaired Capacity to Consent Framework to help researchers design inclusive trials.
METHODS METHODS
The framework was developed over five phases: (1) establishing the scope and content of the framework and adapting the INCLUDE Ethnicity Framework for this population; (2) scoping the relevance of the framework to different populations and piloting in a range of trials; (3) consulting people living with impairing conditions and carers to explore their views about the framework and identify missing content areas; (4) refining the framework; and (5) the development of an implementation toolkit of resources to support researchers using the framework.
RESULTS RESULTS
The framework has two parts: a set of four key questions to help researchers identify who should be included in their trial, and a series of worksheets covering intervention design, recruitment and consent processes, data collection and analysis, and public involvement and dissemination. It is supported by a summary of the ethical and legal frameworks and a website of resources on capacity and consent. Implementation resources include infographics and animations, a library of completed frameworks, and facilitated workshops for researchers. The framework and toolkit were launched at a webinar (November 2022), with polling demonstrating an increase in attendees' awareness about research involving adults lacking capacity. A post-webinar survey found that stakeholders viewed the framework and toolkit as valuable tools to facilitate greater inclusion of this under-served population in trials. The framework is available online: https://www.capacityconsentresearch.com/include-impaired-capacity-to-consent-framework.html .
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
The INCLUDE Impaired Capacity to Consent Framework and implementation toolkit can support researchers to design more inclusive trials and other types of research studies. Further engagement, including with funders who are key to ensuring uptake, and evaluation is needed.

Identifiants

pubmed: 38273417
doi: 10.1186/s13063-024-07944-x
pii: 10.1186/s13063-024-07944-x
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

83

Subventions

Organisme : Cardiff University
ID : IfA

Informations de copyright

© 2024. The Author(s).

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Auteurs

Victoria Shepherd (V)

Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, 4th floor Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4YS, UK. ShepherdVL1@cardiff.ac.uk.

Katherine Joyce (K)

Bristol Trials Centre, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Amanda Lewis (A)

Bristol Trials Centre, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Samantha Flynn (S)

CEDAR (Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research), University of Warwick, Warwick, UK.

Madeleine Clout (M)

Bristol Trials Centre, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Brittany Nocivelli (B)

Division of Population Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.

Jeremy Segrott (J)

Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, 4th floor Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4YS, UK.

Shaun Treweek (S)

Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.

Classifications MeSH