Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40420059›Full record

ArticleBMC medical ethics2025

Exploring knowledge and attitudes toward electronic informed consent among clinical trial participants in China: a cross-sectional study.

Ying Wu, Xing Liu, Xiaoying Ge, Xin Tan, Weiwei Yu, Xiaomin Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical ethics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

6 authors.

Ying Wu *School of Humanities, Central South University, Changsha, 410012, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
Xing Liu *Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
Xiaoying GeSchool of Humanities, Central South University, Changsha, 410012, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
Xin TanSchool of Humanities, Central South University, Changsha, 410012, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
Weiwei YuXiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
Xiaomin WangCenter for Clinical Pharmacology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China. xiaominwang@csu.edu.cn.

Funding

Construction Projects of the Teaching Case Database for Postgraduate Students of Central South University in 2025 2025ALK024Research on Moral Issues in the Field of Contemporary Science and Technology 22&ZD044Scientific Research Plan Project of the Health Commission of Hunan Province B20231501873
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWith the extensive integration of digital technology into clinical research, intelligence, virtualization, and decentralization have gradually transformed into emerging clinical research modes, the electronization of informed consent has become indispensable to the development of clinical trial informatization, and the inclination to use electronic informed consent (eIC) has grown. The knowledge and perceptions of research participants, as objects of informed consent acquisition, regarding eIC are crucial. However, few studies have empirically explored such issues.

methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted at three general hospitals in south-central China from July to September 2022. An online survey questionnaire was adapted and administered via WeChat to investigate the issues of interest.

resultsA total of 388 valid questionnaires were included in the analysis. The results showed that the overall response rate for the knowledge section of the questionnaire exceeded 70%. Of the respondents, 53.1% had heard of the term "electronic informed consent," but only 43.2% had used eIC. The majority of respondents (68%) expressed a preference for using eIC and demonstrated a positive attitude toward it. However, some participants expressed concerns regarding the security and confidentiality (64.4%), operational complexity (52.3%), and effectiveness of online interaction (59.3%) in eIC. Statistically significant relationships were observed between participants' attitude scores and their age, gender, type of participation, and frequency of involvement in clinical research. Additionally, a positive and statistically significant correlation was found between participants' knowledge scores and their attitude scores.

conclusionThe results of this study indicate that most participants have a good understanding of eIC-related knowledge and hold a positive attitude toward its implementation. However, they also express concerns about data protection and privacy security in eIC. These findings provide a foundation for developing targeted strategies to enhance the adoption and acceptance of eIC among diverse populations.

Indexed as

Clinical Trials as TopicHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeInformed ConsentResearch SubjectsAdultAgedChinaConfidentialityCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultAttitudeClinical researchKnowledgeResearch participant

Identifiers

PMID40420059
PMCPMC12105304

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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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.