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. 2024 Jul;19(3):124-134.
doi: 10.1177/15562646241253953. Epub 2024 May 15.

Obtaining Consent for Research on Risky Behaviours Among Adolescents in Canada: A Scoping Review

Lillian MacNeill  1   2 , A Luke MacNeill  1   2 , Shelley Doucet  1   2 , Alison Luke  1   2 , Alex Goudreau  3
Affiliations

Obtaining Consent for Research on Risky Behaviours Among Adolescents in Canada: A Scoping Review

Lillian MacNeill et al. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics. 2024 Jul.

Abstract

This scoping review explores current practices for obtaining consent in research on risky behaviours among adolescents in Canada. The JBI methodology for scoping reviews was used. The database search was conducted in August 2021 and updated in November 2022. Papers published in 2010 or later were included. Extracted data included study characteristics, sample characteristics, and consent procedures. The review included 83 reports covering 57 studies. Nearly 60% of studies relied on adolescent self-consent for participation. Adolescent self-consent was more common than parental/guardian consent for studies using in-person research methods, older adolescent groups, and particularly vulnerable populations. Parental/guardian consent was more common for studies using younger age groups and general population samples. Adolescent self-consent was more common than parental/guardian consent for most risky behaviours covered by this review. These results provide insight into current consent practices in this area and offer guidance to researchers and institutional review boards in Canada.

Keywords: children and adolescent/pediatrics; informed consent; parental consent; risky behaviours; scoping review.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no actual or potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Search results and screening process (Page et al., 2021).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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