Research Equity and Enrolling Non-English Speakers

By Luke Gelinas, IRB Chairperson

Informed consent, a cornerstone of ethical research, involves describing important elements of research in a way that permits participants or potential participants to comprehend those elements and make a voluntary choice about research participation. For individuals who speak languages other than English, or who possess limited English proficiency (LEP), informed consent may require an interpreter and a translated consent form.

Facilitating enrollment of individuals with LEP gives the research community an important chance to foster clinical trial diversity and inclusion. However, careful forethought is needed to anticipate logistical challenges and balance the importance of fostering diversity with the costs of translation services.