Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39828429›Full record

Trial reportBMJ global health2025

Acceptability and effectiveness of a study information video in improving the research consent process for youth: a non-inferiority trial.

Tinashe Cynthia Mwaturura, Victoria Simms, Ethel Dauya, Som Kumar Shrestha, Salmaan Ferrand, Talent Shavani, Chido Dziva Chikwari, Constance R S Mackworth-Young, Tsitsi Bandason, Constancia Mavodza and 4 more

Abstract readEquivalence TrialRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMJ global health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Tinashe Cynthia MwatururaThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe tinashemwaturura@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-7572-4508
Victoria SimmsThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Ethel DauyaThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Som Kumar ShresthaMRC International Statistics & Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London, UK.
Salmaan FerrandThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Talent ShavaniThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Chido Dziva ChikwariThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Constance R S Mackworth-YoungThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Tsitsi BandasonThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Constancia MavodzaThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Mandikudza TemboThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4520-3317
Katharina KranzerThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Sarah BernaysThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7628-8408
Rashida Abbas FerrandThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7660-9176

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionObtaining informed consent for research includes the use of information sheets, which are often long and may be difficult for participants to understand. We conducted a trial to investigate whether consent procedures using a study information video coupled with electronic consent were non-inferior to standard consent procedures using participant information sheets (PIS) among youth aged 18-24 years in Zimbabwe.

methodsThe trial was nested within an endline population-based survey for a cluster-randomised trial from October 2021 to June 2022. Randomisation of participants to video or paper-based consent was at household level. We assessed non-inferiority in comprehension of the study using a questionnaire. The video method was accepted as non-inferior to standard consent procedures if the 95% CIs of the mean difference did not fall below the prespecified margin of 1.98. Thematic analysis was conducted on brief qualitative discussions with randomly selected youth to explore the acceptability of video and PIS within consent methods.

resultsOverall, 921 participants were enrolled (54% female). The median age was 20 (IQR 18-24) years. The mean comprehension score was 25.4/30 in both arms. The mean difference in comprehension between arms was -0.02 (95% CI -0.51 to 0.47) showing non-inferiority of the intervention in comprehension of study information. Youth (N=90) described both consent methods as interactive and inclusive. Those in the video consent arm felt it was exciting and youth focused. The use of imagery to explain procedures strengthened the perceived trustworthiness of the research. However, the high volume of information in both arms reduced acceptability.

conclusionComprehension of study information using an information video is non-inferior to a paper-based consent method. Using information videos for consent processes shows promise as a person-centred and context-sensitive approach to enhance the informed consent process and should be encouraged by ethics committees.

Indexed as

Informed ConsentVideo RecordingAdolescentComprehensionFemaleHumansMaleSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultZimbabweHealth policyIntervention studyPublic Health

Identifiers

PMID39828429
PMCPMC11749567

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.