title: Predicting adolescent asthma research participation decisions from a structural equations model of protocol factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine similarities and differences in the process that parents and adolescents use to make decisions concerning participation in an asthma clinical trial. We hypothesized that a single conceptual model, tested through structural equations modeling, could explain adolescent assent and parent consent for adolescent research participation.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred nine adolescents enrolled with at least one parent and received an asthma evaluation from a pediatric asthma specialist and then evaluated a hypothetical asthma research protocol. Family members independently evaluated the protocol and made research participation decisions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perceived risk, benefit, and compensation were direct predictors of participation decisions for parents and adolescents. Adolescents perceived direct study benefit from the relationship with the physician, however parents did not. Parent decisions were most strongly associated with perceived risk, and parents associated discomfort with risk more strongly than did adolescents. Protocol procedures contributed to perceptions of benefit and discomfort for parents and adolescents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parent and adolescent research participation decisions are influenced by protocol variables in similar ways, although there are differences that account for disagreements within families. Findings may help investigators develop protocols that appeal to parents and adolescents and highlight issues of particular importance to address during the process of informed consent.
authors.affiliation: Center for Family and Adolescent Research, Oregon Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102, USA. jbrody@ori.org
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Brody
authors.forename: Charles W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Annett
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dalen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018579:Patient Selection
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents