CT:IQ: Supporting the Implementation of eConsent in Australia

CT:IQ is pleased to launch a series of use cases illustrating successful implementation of eConsent in Australia, aimed to be used as a guide for researchers and HRECs seeking to develop and implement eConsent.

In 2019, Chrysalis Advisory, on behalf of CT:IQ, undertook an investigation of stakeholder opinions about the benefits, risks and critical success factors for eConsent implementation, published in a 2019 report. A summary of this report has now been published as a perspective in the MJA.

Following on from this work, the need for use cases to demonstrate practical implementation of eConsent was identified and subsequently developed. The examples, which can now be accessed via the CT:IQ website, show that the use of eConsent is acceptable to HRECs and institutions and should be treated no differently to standard consent processes.

“Our review of use cases revealed that use of digital platforms clearly and unequivocally enhance the informed consent process and are equally if not more acceptable than traditional methods,” says Professor Nik Zeps from Chrysalis Advisory.

There are currently three use cases featured, including the Australian Genomics Health Alliance, Royal North Shore Hospital and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute that demonstrate:

• eConsent
• Dynamic consent
• eConsent for remote/telehealth study recruitment
• Use of video animations in clinical consent
• Paediatric Asthma Re-admissions Study

CT:IQ will continue to provide updates as the bank of use cases on the website grows over the next few months.

Bellberry is one of the four founding members and a proud supporter of CT:IQ.