Participant remuneration for research - how much is enough

Abstract

Most international and national guidelines on health research ethics vaguely warn against unfair inducement of individuals to participate in research but are otherwise silent on this issue. The most comprehensive guideline referring to participant remuneration is that of the Council for International Organisations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS). 1 This document has been developed in conjunction with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and refers specifically to research in developing countries. Guidelines 4 (1993 version) and 11 (2002 revised draft) refer to ‘inducement to participate’. Guideline 4 states, inter alia, that ‘subjects may be paid for inconvenience and time spent, and should be reimbursed for expenses incurred, in connection with their participation in research’. Guideline 11 states, inter alia, that ‘subjects may be paid or otherwise rewarded for inconvenience and time spent’. The guideline also details acceptable and unacceptable recompense, remuneration of guardians of incompetent participants and remuneration in the event of withdrawal from a study.