Research project detail

Active and Passive Parental Consent for Children's Participation in Research

The current study aims to explore the existing research ethics climate in Australia regarding active and passive parental consent for children’s involvement in research. Interviews will be conducted with Chairs of Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) and key stakeholders to document views on parental consent and to obtain information about past projects in which approval has been granted for passive parental consent.

Rationale

There is now widespread consensus about the need to include children and young people in health and medical research as participants. However, debate still exists about the best way to facilitate such inclusion. One aspect of ongoing debates focuses on the choice between obtaining active or passive parental consent. For active parental consent, parents are required to return a form in order for their children to take part (opt-in consent); for passive parental consent, parents are only required to return a form if they do not want their children to take part (opt-out consent).

The current project aims to answer three key research questions:

1. What stance do Australian HRECs currently hold concerning active and passive parental consent and have they approved projects in which passive parental consent was used?
2. What are the views of key stakeholders about passive and active parental consent?
3. What are the implications for research findings of the use of either active or passive parental consent for children’s involvement in research?

Method

The researchers will conduct qualitative interviews with Chairs of HRECs to document their views on parental consent and obtain information about past projects in which approval has been granted for passive parental consent. Up to ten semi-structured interviews will be conducted with HRECs from both academic and non-academic institutions, and up to five interviews will be conducted with key stakeholders in the field (e.g. NHMRC, ARACY, FaHCSIA).

A Cochrane Systematic Review is underway to explore how passive and active parental consent has been used in research involving children, and to analyse associated implications for the findings from research with children.

Results

Project in progress

Research team

• Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute: Dr Rony Duncan
• McCaughey Centre: VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing, University of Melbourne: Dr Naomi Priest
• Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, University of Melbourne: Dr Marie Yap
• Parenting Research Centre: Dr Catherine Wade
• Social Policy Research Centre, University of NSW: Gerry Redmond
• The Benevolent Society: Andrew Anderson

Contact

Dr Catherine Wade
E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
P: +61 3 8660 3514

Funding

In kind funding from Parenting Research Centre and all partners

Partners

• Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
• McCaughey Centre, University of Melbourne
• Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, University of Melbourne
• Social Policy Research Centre, University of NSW
• The Benevolent Society

Ethics

The Royal Children’s Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee

Reports/Publications

Duncan, R., & Wade, C. (2009). Active or passive parental consent? Implications for the participation of children and young people in prevention and community based intervention research. Paper presented at the ARACY National Conference, Melbourne, Australia.