Ethical Consideration in Observational on Research Teenagers

Adolescents are at risk for many serious health problems including drugs, alcohol, depression and sexually transmitted diseases. Research on these issues is important to establish more effective prevention programs and therapies. However, research concerning adolescents faces challenges for several reasons. First, despite their developing maturity, generally people need to be at least 18 years before they may decide for themselves to participate in research. Below that age, parental permission is generally necessary. However, adolescents may not be willing to participate in research in sensitive topics if their parents are informed about their participation. Second, adolescents vary in their maturity, independence, and ability to make informed decisions. Although they may wish to make their own decisions, adolescents usually benefit from parental guidance. Finally, many of teenagers are exposed to the public health risks and many of them are abused by political aims and research on these problems is often socially controversial. Taking into account the mean age of the Iranian population and also huge number of observational studies which are being done among Iranian adolescents on one hand and the absence of researchers’ complete familiarity with the 26 Code relating to the protection of human subjects in medical research advised by Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 2010 on all the Universities of medical sciences across the country - the main purpose of this study is to summarize those issues and ethical considerations in observational studies on adolescents which should be taken into consideration.