Operationalization of assent for research participation in pre-adolescent children: a scoping review

BMC Medical Ethics

Table 2 Characteristics of studies defining assent (n = 57)

	Number (%)
Reason for obtaining assent
Research purposes	50 (87.7)
Clinical purposes	6 (10.5)
Organ donation^a	2 (3.5)
Context of the study on assent
For research/treatment in general (may include guidelines)	21 (36.8)
In a specific real study/treatment performed on children	16 (28.1)
Across multiple real studies/treatments	12 (21.1)
In a specific hypothetical study/treatment	3 (5.3)
Other^b	5 (8.8)
Specific assent focus
Opinions/perceptions about assent	30 (52.6)
Practicalities of the assent process	15 (26.3)
Guidelines	13 (22.8)
Improvement/innovation tools	12 (21.1)
Recall/understanding of assent information	10 (17.5)
Other^c	3 (5.3)

^aRelated to children’s opinions about organ donation and to minors living organ donation
^bOther contexts included HIV/AIDS research, multiple hypothetical studies, genetic testing research and pediatric biobanking
^cOther assent focuses included decision-making processes, ethical and procedural issues surrounding pediatric assent and sociodemographic characteristics of children who assent or dissent

ISSN: 1472-6939