Willingness to participate in Alzheimer disease research and attitudes towards proxy-informed consent: results from the Health and Retirement Study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate public opinion about participation in Alzheimer disease (AD) research and willingness to have a proxy-informed consent.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
A national survey of community-dwelling adults over the age of 50 and their spouse of any age.


METHODS
The 2006 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 1,517).


METHODS
Willingness to participate in one of four possible research scenarios and to have a proxy-informed consent for AD research.


RESULTS
Overall, 65.8% agreed to participate in AD research and 70.7% agreed to proxy-informed consent. Relative to a minimal benefit and moderate risk scenario, participants were more likely to favor participation in a moderate benefit and minimal risk scenario and less likely to endorse a minimal benefit and severe risk scenario. Those agreeing to participate in the study were more likely to agree to proxy consent and to give leeway to a research proxy to go against their will.


CONCLUSIONS
Most participants view AD research favorably and are agreeable toward participating in such research as well as toward having a research proxy. Participants are able to distinguish between studies of different levels of benefit and risk. Nevertheless, over 50% agreed to a study of minimal benefit and severe risk. Researchers and clinicians should be aware that those less agreeable toward AD research are less interested in having a research proxy.
Ayalon
Liat
L
School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel. ayalonl@mail.biu.ac.il
D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D001290:Attitude; D003256:Community Participation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006805:Human Experimentation; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020458:Third-Party Consent