Children's Concepts of Research Hospitalization

Abstract

Current concern for legal and ethical aspects of informed consent in children prompted this study of 50 hospitalizations of 36 children, four to 17 years of age, to determine their concepts of the research nature of their hospitalization. In spite of careful preparation, none of the 17 children under and only six of the 19 over the age of 11 showed awareness during admission that their hospitalization had anything to do with research. Five of the six who showed some awareness of research presented symptoms of overwhelming anxiety. This study suggests that even after careful preparation the child subject most often is not aware of the research nature of his hospitalization. It further suggests that only after 11 years of age may a child be aware of being a research subject and that such an awareness may result in overwhelming anxiety.