Consenting to participate in research for the treatment of cancer: The patient's perspective

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore cancer patients' experiences with the process of consenting to participate in experimental, randomized design studies. A descriptive study using focus groups was conducted to gain a better understanding of how to improve and facilitate consent discussions between investigators and patients. Categories were defined using a deductive approach based on the literature and the Medical Research Council of Canada (MRC) framework for the consent process. The focus group sessions addressed the question of "Now that I have been through the clinical trial research process, what would I have liked to have known?". Implications for nursing practice and recommendations for defining the consent process from the participants' perspective are outlined.