Analysis of Informed Consent Forms Submitted to Institutional Ethics Committee of a Medical Institute in Southern India: A Cross-sectional Observational Study

Abstract

Introduction: Informed consent is an essential component in research involving human participants. However, the informed consent obtained may be incomplete and not fulfill the essential criteria of Informed Consent Forms (ICFs). Although the guidelines for developing ICFs have been clearly spelled out by various research bodies, these guidelines are not followed completely. Aim: To analyse the ICFs submitted to the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) of a Medical Institute in Southern India. Materials and Methods: The present study was a crosssectional observational study analysing ICFs submitted to the IEC of McGann District Teaching Hospital, Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), Shivamogga, Karnataka, India, for the period 2014 to January 2023. All research projects containing ICFs during the study period were included in the study. Of the research projects submitted, only 70 had ICFs, and these were subjected to analysis as per Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines criteria. The criteria for ICFs were: statement of research, purpose/methods of the study, duration/frequency of the study, benefits to participants/community, foreseeable risks, discomfort/inconvenience, confidentiality, payment/ reimbursement for participation. In addition to these, ICFs were also analysed for additional elements as per ICMR criteria for tissue and blood samples. The results were then subjected to descriptive statistical analysis and presented as mean and percentages. Results: Many of the required essential elements were present in nearly 50% of ICFs submitted to the IEC, which include information on the basic purpose/methods of the study 70 (100%), identity of the principal investigator/research team 57 (81.42%), freedom to participate/withdraw from the study 55 (78.57%), confidentiality of records 54 (77.14%), and foreseeable risks, discomfort, and inconvenience to participants 35 (50%). Other essential elements like benefits were present to participants/community 28 (40%), payment/reimbursement for participation 28 (40%), duration and frequency 12 (17.14%), statement of research 9 (12.85%), treatment/compensation for injury 4 (5.71%). Regarding additional elements of ICFs for biological samples, ICFs adhered to the ICMR requirements except none of the submitted forms had any information on the period of storage of biological samples. Conclusion: The ICF is an essential requirement for conducting research. Ensuring adherence of ICF to guidelines is important from a research perspective. The present study concludes that the majority of the essential elements were present in ICFs with a few exceptions like study as research and information on the storage of biological samples, which was nil.