title: Researching sensitive issues in child psychiatric nursing: ethical concerns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research in the field of child psychiatric nursing is greatly needed. The sensitive nature of many potential topics has hindered research in the field.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper defines sensitive research and explores the ethical issues encountered when designing studies on sensitive issues for the purpose of increasing awareness of the problems involved.
  
  
  METHODS
  A synthesis of the nursing, psychiatric, psychological, and sociological literature resulted in identification of potential ethical problems, as well as suggestions for managing these ethical issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Well-designed research on sensitive issues that meets the ethical principles of beneficence, respect, and justice will contribute to the knowledge base of child psychiatric nursing.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Scharer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D012107:Research Design