Subjects' expectations in neuroimaging research.
OBJECTIVE
To explore subjects' attitudes and expectations concerning the detection and management of incidental findings in neuroimaging research.


METHODS
Healthy control subjects (N = 105) who previously participated in neuroimaging studies in medical and nonmedical settings were surveyed about their expectations and attitudes toward unexpected clinical findings on their research brain scans. We hypothesized that even though the participants consented to a scanning procedure for research purposes alone, they would still expect pathology, if present, to be detected and reported to them.


RESULTS
Fifty-four percent of participants reported that they expected research scans to detect abnormalities if they existed. Nearly all subjects (>90%) reported that they would want findings communicated to them, and many (59%) preferred this to be done by a physician affiliated with the research team. The participants responded in similar ways whether they were scanned in medical or nonmedical settings.


CONCLUSIONS
Clarity about procedures for handling incidental findings when obtaining written and verbal informed consent is essential to ensure that the subjects' expectations are consistent with the purpose and scope of the research.
Kirschen
Matthew P
MP
Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94304-5748, USA.
Jaworska
Agnieszka
A
Illes
Judy
J
D000328:Adult; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000941:ethics*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006805:Human Experimentation; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007258:Informed Consent; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D035842:Research Subjects; D012307:Risk Factors; D014342:Truth Disclosure