Nstitute bullying were to be discussed among the researchers, and a

Nstitute bullying were to be discussed among the researchers, and a decision was then made regarding removal of the participant. A critical incident protocol was in place to deal with PF-04418948MedChemExpress PF-04418948 participant disclosures of offline behaviors or events such as offline bullying or other negative health behaviors. Participants were informed that discussions online were confidential unless they disclosed something which indicated they or others were going to come to harm. No incidences of bullying occurred on the board. Online communications, such as those obtained in Let’s Chat Pain, also raise concerns regarding participant safety because of potential disclosure of Metformin (hydrochloride) cost harmful health behaviors, suicidal ideation, harm to others, abuse, or neglect. It is important to consider whether individuals who choose to engage in internet research may be more vulnerable to these safety concerns than their offline counterparts. Previous studies have shown that frequent users of the Internet are more likely to have a lower mental health score and increased risk for suicidal ideation than nonusers (Dunlop, More, Romer, 2011; Fox, et al., 2000). However, the Internet is populated not just by heavy users, and individuals who choose to enroll in e-health research are likely to have varying baseline levels of internet use. For example, in the Web-MAP study, participants from some rural communities in the United States reported having had an internet connection in their home for one year or less at the time of study enrollment. Similar to face-to-face research, a conservative approach to responding to concerns about participant safety is recommended. Adolescent disclosure of safety concerns during participation in a research study evaluating an online intervention can be addressed using similar procedures as face-to-face intervention research, including a thorough assessment followed by disclosure of concerns and recommendations to caregivers. In the Web-MAP study, concerns about participant safety are addressed using standardized critical incident procedures approved by the local Institutional Review Board. For example, adolescents who report suicidal ideation are contacted by phone and administered a structured interview assessing suicidal ideation and intent. Results from this interview are shared with caregivers in accordance with mandated reporting laws. Adolescents who receive the suicide screening are provided with contact information for crisis hotlines and local sources of support, and those in imminent or severe crisis would be advised to go to their nearest emergency room to receive a psychiatric evaluation. Such imminent crises have not occurred in our current or completed research with Web-MAP.Ethical Guidance for Pediatric e-health ResearchThere is little guidance as to ethical best practice regarding participant disclosure of safety concerns in studies such as Let’s Chat Pain, which are hosted on asynchronous message boards. Some researchers have argued that even if a participant chooses to disclose a harmful health behavior online over the course of discussion in research, they may have disclosed such information previously on similar message boards (Rodham Gavin, 2006). In this case, not only are researchers not ethically or morally liable to help this individual, but to do so in the absence of a full case history, might be harmful to the participant (Waller, 2011) and could be seen as an attempt at establishing a therapeutic relationship where one shoul.Nstitute bullying were to be discussed among the researchers, and a decision was then made regarding removal of the participant. A critical incident protocol was in place to deal with participant disclosures of offline behaviors or events such as offline bullying or other negative health behaviors. Participants were informed that discussions online were confidential unless they disclosed something which indicated they or others were going to come to harm. No incidences of bullying occurred on the board. Online communications, such as those obtained in Let’s Chat Pain, also raise concerns regarding participant safety because of potential disclosure of harmful health behaviors, suicidal ideation, harm to others, abuse, or neglect. It is important to consider whether individuals who choose to engage in internet research may be more vulnerable to these safety concerns than their offline counterparts. Previous studies have shown that frequent users of the Internet are more likely to have a lower mental health score and increased risk for suicidal ideation than nonusers (Dunlop, More, Romer, 2011; Fox, et al., 2000). However, the Internet is populated not just by heavy users, and individuals who choose to enroll in e-health research are likely to have varying baseline levels of internet use. For example, in the Web-MAP study, participants from some rural communities in the United States reported having had an internet connection in their home for one year or less at the time of study enrollment. Similar to face-to-face research, a conservative approach to responding to concerns about participant safety is recommended. Adolescent disclosure of safety concerns during participation in a research study evaluating an online intervention can be addressed using similar procedures as face-to-face intervention research, including a thorough assessment followed by disclosure of concerns and recommendations to caregivers. In the Web-MAP study, concerns about participant safety are addressed using standardized critical incident procedures approved by the local Institutional Review Board. For example, adolescents who report suicidal ideation are contacted by phone and administered a structured interview assessing suicidal ideation and intent. Results from this interview are shared with caregivers in accordance with mandated reporting laws. Adolescents who receive the suicide screening are provided with contact information for crisis hotlines and local sources of support, and those in imminent or severe crisis would be advised to go to their nearest emergency room to receive a psychiatric evaluation. Such imminent crises have not occurred in our current or completed research with Web-MAP.Ethical Guidance for Pediatric e-health ResearchThere is little guidance as to ethical best practice regarding participant disclosure of safety concerns in studies such as Let’s Chat Pain, which are hosted on asynchronous message boards. Some researchers have argued that even if a participant chooses to disclose a harmful health behavior online over the course of discussion in research, they may have disclosed such information previously on similar message boards (Rodham Gavin, 2006). In this case, not only are researchers not ethically or morally liable to help this individual, but to do so in the absence of a full case history, might be harmful to the participant (Waller, 2011) and could be seen as an attempt at establishing a therapeutic relationship where one shoul.