Advance Consent In Acute Stroke Trials: Survey Of Canadian Research Ethics Board Chairs

Advance Consent In Acute Stroke Trials: Survey Of Canadian Research Ethics Board Chairs
Manuscript
Rena Seeger, Ubong Udoh, Brian Dewar, Stuart Nicholls, Mark Fedyk, Robert Fahed, Jeff Perry, Michael D Hill, Bijoy Menon, Richard H Swartz, Alexandre Y Poppe, Sophia Gocan, Jamie Brehaut, Katie Dainty, Victoria Shepherd, Dar Dowlatshahi, Michel Shamy
24 July 2023 [Cambridge University Press]
Abstract
Advance consent could allow individuals at high risk of stroke to provide consent before they might become eligible for enrollment in acute stroke trials. This survey explores the acceptability of this novel technique to Canadian Research Ethics Board (REB) chairs that review acute stroke trials. Responses from 15 REB chairs showed that majority of respondents expressed comfort approving studies that adopt advance consent. There was no clear preference for advance consent over deferral of consent, although respondents expressed significant concern with broad rather than trial-specific advance consent. These findings shed light on the acceptability of advance consent to Canadian ethics regulators.