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A multimedia consent tool for research participants in the Gambia: a randomized controlled trial

Overview of attention for article published in Bulletin of the World Health Organization, March 2015
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Title
A multimedia consent tool for research participants in the Gambia: a randomized controlled trial
Published in
Bulletin of the World Health Organization, March 2015
DOI 10.2471/blt.14.146159
Pubmed ID
Authors

Muhammed Olanrewaju Afolabi, Nuala McGrath, Umberto D’Alessandro, Beate Kampmann, Egeruan B Imoukhuede, Raffaella M Ravinetto, Neal Alexander, Heidi J Larson, Daniel Chandramohan, Kalifa Bojang

Abstract

To assess the effectiveness of a multimedia informed consent tool for adults participating in a clinical trial in the Gambia. Adults eligible for inclusion in a malaria treatment trial (n = 311) were randomized to receive information needed for informed consent using either a multimedia tool (intervention arm) or a standard procedure (control arm). A computerized, audio questionnaire was used to assess participants' comprehension of informed consent. This was done immediately after consent had been obtained (at day 0) and at subsequent follow-up visits (days 7, 14, 21 and 28). The acceptability and ease of use of the multimedia tool were assessed in focus groups. On day 0, the median comprehension score in the intervention arm was 64% compared with 40% in the control arm (P = 0.042). The difference remained significant at all follow-up visits. Poorer comprehension was independently associated with female sex (odds ratio, OR: 0.29; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.12-0.70) and residing in Jahaly rather than Basse province (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.13-0.82). There was no significant independent association with educational level. The risk that a participant's comprehension score would drop to half of the initial value was lower in the intervention arm (hazard ratio 0.22, 95% CI: 0.16-0.31). Overall, 70% (42/60) of focus group participants from the intervention arm found the multimedia tool clear and easy to understand. A multimedia informed consent tool significantly improved comprehension and retention of consent information by research participants with low levels of literacy.

Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 82 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
United Kingdom 1 1%
Gambia 1 1%
Unknown 80 98%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Master 18 22%
Researcher 14 17%
Student > Ph. D. Student 7 9%
Student > Bachelor 6 7%
Student > Postgraduate 6 7%
Other 12 15%
Unknown 19 23%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Medicine and Dentistry 21 26%
Nursing and Health Professions 12 15%
Social Sciences 9 11%
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 4 5%
Psychology 3 4%
Other 11 13%
Unknown 22 27%