The Use of Electronic Consent for COVID‐19 Clinical Trials: Lessons for Emergency Care research During a Pandemic and Beyond

The Use of Electronic Consent for COVID‐19 Clinical Trials: Lessons for Emergency Care research During a Pandemic and Beyond
Eric Jaton, Jamie Stang, Michelle Biros, Abbey Staugaitis, Julie Scherber, Florian Merkle, Nicholas M. Mohr, Christopher Streib, Lauren Klein, Michael A. Puskarich
Academic Emergency Medicine, 24 September 2020
Open Access
Abstract
The novel SARS‐CoV‐2 coronavirus poses many unique challenges to the implementation of clinical research, particularly as it relates to the processes of informed consent. Traditional methods of in‐person informed consent were no longer plausible, as face‐to‐face discussions may expose researchers and patients to increased risk of contracting and spreading the virus. In many circumstances the research personnel obtaining consent were considered non‐essential workers, and thus did not have priority for personal protective equipment in light of national shortages.