February 2024 SOCRA Source Journal - Journal - Page 47
research. Researchers must
make the research relevant
and responsive to the needs
of participants. Also, the
research announcement must
be visible. Researchers should
consider possible barriers
to participation from the
perspectives of participants
and help them understand how
meaningful their participation
could be. Research should be
transparent and accessible to
all populations. Parents may not
be aware of the availability of
mental health related research.
Building trust is another strategy
to improve participation in
pediatric behavioral health
research. Researchers must
assume that potential
participants have a stance of
vulnerability and reinforce the
belief that the researcher is
trustworthy and has goodwill
toward the participants. This is
very important.
Researchers must avoid false
claims and false information.
In addition, it is important to
remind participants that the
relationship is always based
on a voluntary association.
They have the right to
withdraw anytime without
any consequences. Showing
enthusiasm and respect also
builds trust.
Another strategy to improve
participation in pediatric
behavioral research is using
basic manners, such as having
integrity and being honest
and transparent. Researchers
should engage the participant
without coercion and undue
influence, assemble a culturally
sensitive research team, and
provide a culturally appropriate
environment for participants.
Members of the research
team must be compassionate,
respectful, and dignified. They
should communicate with
participants and their parents
or caregivers politely and
respectfully.
Researchers must try to make
it easy and comfortable for
children to participate in
pediatric research. They should
accommodate the needs of
participants and their parents or
caregivers and offer alternative
choices. Researchers should
be flexible about scheduling
study visits and their length and
format. If it is possible to do
virtual visits, that should be an
option. Lincoln Medical Center
has employed virtual visits to
conduct interviews. Researchers
must be flexible about the
arrangements for remuneration
and should always have a backup plan.
and should be a priority. Making
child mental health a priority
will help reduce practice gaps
in terms of treatment for
children with behavioral issues.
Neglecting mental health and
behavioral illnesses in children
is an ethical failure. Investments
must be made in this important
area of research.
There are no quick and easy
solutions to the unique ethical
and practical difficulties of
conducting pediatric behavioral
health research. Researchers
must be aware of the ethical
dimensions of research
involving human participants,
which stem from the core
principles of the Belmond
Report: respect for persons,
beneficence, and justice. Ethical
safeguards are essential for
potentially vulnerable children.
Table 7 provides resources
on challenges in behavioral
research involving children.
Advocacy, including community
engagement, is important.
Researchers should involve
many key stakeholders. They
should consider collaborative
efforts with social service
agencies, local mental health
agencies, schools, and mental
health advocacy groups. This
can help improve community
members’ trust and thus
their participation in research
projects.
CONCLUSION
While there are many challenges
to conducting pediatric
behavioral health research, it
is important to conduct this
research in order to address
unmet needs. Children’s mental
health is everybody’s business
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