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The Unique Ethical Challenges of Conducting Research in the Rehabilitation Medicine Population

Overview
Journal BMC Med Ethics
Publisher Biomed Central
Specialty Medical Ethics
Date 2003 Jun 19
PMID 12812526
Citations 9
Authors
Jeff Blackmer
Affiliations
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Abstract

Background: The broad topic of research ethics is one which has been relatively well-investigated and discussed. Unique ethical issues have been identified for such populations as pediatrics, where the issues of consent and assent have received much attention, and obstetrics, with concerns such as the potential for research to cause harm to the fetus. However, little has been written about ethical concerns which are relatively unique to the population of patients seen by the practitioner of rehabilitation medicine.

Discussion: This paper reviews unique ethical concerns in conducting research in this population, including decision-making capacity, communication, the potential for subject overuse, the timing of recruitment, hope for a cure and therapeutic misconception and the nature of the health care provider-research subject relationship.

Summary: Researchers in the area of rehabilitation medicine should be aware of some of the unique ethical challenges posed by this patient population and should take steps to address any potential concerns in order to optimize subject safety and ensure that studies meet current ethical guidelines and standards.

Citing Articles

Access, Utilization, and Implementation of Research Among Rehabilitation Nurses: A Qualitative Study.

Mitro J, Pomeroy J, Osman S, Matta V, Cai C, Garfinkel S Rehabil Nurs. 2022; 47(3):99-108.

PMID: 35507836 PMC: 9060933. DOI: 10.1097/RNJ.0000000000000367.

Neuro-Oncology Patients as Human Research Subjects: Ethical Considerations for Cognitive and Behavioral Testing for Research Purposes.

Kaur J, Egladyous A, Valdivia C, Daniel A, Krishna S, Aabedi A Cancers (Basel). 2022; 14(3).

PMID: 35158959 PMC: 8833547. DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030692.

Central Recruitment: A process for engaging and recruiting individuals with spinal cord injury/disease in research at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute.

Craven B, Brisbois L, Pelletier C, Rybkina J, Heesters A, Verrier M J Spinal Cord Med. 2021; 44(sup1):S240-S249.

PMID: 34779741 PMC: 8604526. DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2021.1970898.

Indigenous traumatic brain injury research: responding to recruitment challenges in the hospital environment.

Fitts M, Condon T, Gilroy J, Bird K, Bleakley E, Matheson L BMC Med Res Methodol. 2019; 19(1):172.

PMID: 31390984 PMC: 6686395. DOI: 10.1186/s12874-019-0813-x.

Overcoming practical challenges to conducting clinical research in the inpatient stroke rehabilitation setting.

Campbell G, Skidmore E, Whyte E, Matthews J Top Stroke Rehabil. 2015; 22(5):386-95.

PMID: 25775955 PMC: 4573785. DOI: 10.1179/1074935714Z.0000000045.

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