It doesn't cost anything just to ask, does it? The ethics of questionnaire-based research
- 1Centre for Philosophy and Health Care, University of Wales, Swansea, Wales, UK
- 2Department of General Practice, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, Wales, UK
- 3Department of Nursing and Midwifery, DeMontfort University, Leicester, UK
- Correspondence to: Mr Mike Robling, Department of General Practice, Llanedeyrn Health Centre, Maelfa, Llanedeyrn, Cardiff CF23 9PN; roblingmr{at}cardiff.ac.uk
- Accepted 1 August 2001
- Revised 3 July 2001
Abstract
Patient-based outcome measures are increasingly important in health care evaluations, often through the use of paper-based questionnaires. The likely impact of questionnaires upon patients is not often considered and therefore, the balance of benefit and harm not fully explored. Harms that might accrue for research staff are even less frequently considered. This paper describes the use of postal questionnaires within a study of breast disease management in primary care. Questionnaire responses are used to describe the nature of discomfort or harms that may occur in such studies. Ethical issues raised by the harms are discussed in relation to the benefits of the study. Practical suggestions for reducing harm to patients are proposed. A secondary consideration, discomfort to the researcher, is also identified and suggestions made to reduce its effect. Finally, the role of research questionnaires as a study intervention is discussed.
