Good Practice Guidance on Consent in Intensive Care Research

This document is a research article that investigates the complexities of obtaining informed consent from patients in intensive care units (ICUs) for participation in studies. It highlights the role of substitute decision makers (SDMs) such as relatives and healthcare practitioners in the consent process, particularly when patients are incapacitated. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, gathering quantitative data through surveys from ICU patients, their relatives, and healthcare practitioners across 14 English ICUs, alongside qualitative interviews with a subset of participants. The findings reveal that while most stakeholders support the involvement of relatives as SDMs, there are varying opinions regarding the role of healthcare practitioners. The research emphasizes the need for clear communication about patient care priorities and consent procedures, aiming to inform good practice guidance for ethical recruitment in ICU research. The study's results are intended to enhance understanding of stakeholder perspectives and improve consent processes in the context of intensive care research.