We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Conducting research with intubated and conscious patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU): Ethical challenges related to consent and lessons learned from a pilot study.
- Authors
Bilodeau, Charles; Gosselin, Émilie; Bourgon-Labelle, Jonathan
- Abstract
Purpose/goals: This poster will point out challenges experienced with the consent process of a pilot research project with intubated and conscious patients in intensive care units. Different solutions are suggested to address these challenges and to support researchers interested in this population. Outcome 1: Critically apply ethical principles related to the patient's consent to research projects in the ICU Outcome 2: Identify ethical challenges pertaining to consent process in research with intubated and conscious participants Outcome 3: Suggest strategies to overcome challenges with the consent process in study involving intubated and conscious participants Outcome 4: Advocate for intubated and conscious patient's autonomy by ensuring an ongoing, free and informed consent to participate in research Session description: Research ethics ensures that participation in research entails a free, informed and ongoing consent, which is even more crucial and complex when studies target vulnerable populations. Among them, critically ill patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit are standing out due to their sudden and temporary inaptitude caused by acute illnesses and invasive treatments. Standard care historically preconized keeping these unconscious patients. Therefore, researchers had to rely on family members to obtain a substituted consent. However, it is now recommended to maintain intubated patients conscious to reduce risk of morbidity and mortality. Researchers should now aim to obtain the patient's direct consent, despite its share of challenges. The purpose of this session is to point out challenges experienced with the consent process to an intervention pilot study involving the recruitment of intubated and conscious patients in ICUs. Challenges encountered ranged from oral and written communication barriers caused by different medical treatments, to sudden and temporary mental impairment. The consent process was also subjected to time constraints associated with patients' fatigue and limited attention span. Strategies used to overcome these challenges included the use of a shorter version of the consent form, preliminary consent with head nodding in front of a witness, ongoing validation of the consent through the entire data collection and the formal written consent procedure postponed until extubation. By safeguarding their rights, these solutions support researchers interested in studying intubated and conscious patients and will ultimately lead to better care for this vulnerable population.
- Subjects
NOVA Scotia; CONFERENCES &; conventions; CONSCIOUSNESS; INFORMED consent (Medical law); INTENSIVE care units; INTUBATION; MEDICAL ethics; HUMAN research subjects
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Critical Care Nursing, 2019, Vol 30, Issue 2, p40
- ISSN
2368-8653
- Publication type
Article