What is a key element of informed consent in research?

A key element of informed consent in research is confirming participants' understanding of the study. Informed consent involves not only providing potential participants with information about the study, including its purpose, procedures, potential risks, and benefits, but also ensuring that they comprehend this information. This understanding empowers participants to make an informed decision about whether to participate, reflecting their autonomy and right to choose.

Ensuring comprehension may involve reviewing the information with participants, encouraging questions, and checking that they fully grasp what their participation entails. This process is essential to ethical research practice, as it respects the dignity and autonomy of participants, ultimately contributing to the integrity of the research. Therefore, the focus on understanding reflects the ethical commitment to informed consent in research studies.