HUMAN SUBJECTS INFORMATION ITEM NO. 11
Recruitment of Subjects Using Intermediaries
The following information is provided to investigators to assist in the use of intermediaries in the recruitment of subjects to participate in research activities.
When an investigator has not had prior contact with subjects, it may be necessary to enlist the cooperation of other professionals and organizations as intermediaries in order to avoid an invasion of potential subjects' privacy. The role of the intermediary is to explain the study in neutral terms and to obtain permission from the prospective subject to release his or her name to the investigator. An intermediary is someone who has had prior contact with the subject and who can provide a linkage between the subject and investigator.
The University of Washington Human Subjects Manual states:
The intermediary who is willing to assist the investigator in this way should not take a strong advocacy position in favor of a particular research activity (Part D, page 14).
Special care must be taken if the person doing the recruiting...is in a relationship of authority or service provision with respect to potential participants. Such a situation can arise if a teacher recruits his or her students, or if a health practitioner recruits patients as research subjects. If possible, it is best to avoid such situations, but there can be cases where this is not possible (Part B, page 11).
The Human Subjects Review Committees permit the use of health practitioners or other service providers as intermediaries only when no alternatives exist for the recruitment of subjects. When the use of these intermediaries is permitted, the investigator should take appropriate safeguards to protect the welfare of subjects who may be vulnerable to coercion or undue influence in such a situation.
It is the opinion of the Committees that paying a per capita recruiting fee or subject completion fee to an intermediary is not in accord with ethical principles guiding the use of human subjects in research. It contradicts the presumed neutrality of the intermediary and may increase the vulnerability of subjects to coercion and undue influence. This practice, therefore, is not in the best interests of potential subjects and should not be permitted.
If you have questions about the appropriate use of intermediaries, please call the Human Subjects Division at 543-0098.
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