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The Decision Making Control Instrument to Assess Voluntary Consent

Author

Listed:
  • Victoria A. Miller
  • Richard F. Ittenbach
  • Diana Harris
  • William W. Reynolds
  • Tom L. Beauchamp
  • Mary Frances Luce
  • Robert M. Nelson

Abstract

Background . The decision to participate in a research intervention or to undergo medical treatment should be both informed and voluntary. Objective . The aim of the present study was to develop an instrument to measure the perceived voluntariness of parents making decisions for their seriously ill children. Methods . A total of 219 parents completed questionnaires within 10 days of making such a decision at a large, urban tertiary care hospital for children. Parents were presented with an experimental form of the Decision Making Control Instrument (DMCI), a measure of the perception of voluntariness. Data obtained from the 28-item form were analyzed using a combination of both exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic techniques. Results . The 28 items were reduced to 9 items representing 3 oblique dimensions: Self-Control, Absence of Control, and Others’ Control. The hypothesis that the 3-factor covariance structure of our model was consistent with that of the data was supported. Internal consistency for the scale as a whole was high (0.83); internal consistency for the subscales ranged from 0.68 to 0.87. DMCI scores were associated with measures of affect, trust, and decision self-efficacy, supporting the construct validity of the new instrument. Conclusion . The DMCI is an important new tool that can be used to inform our understanding of the voluntariness of treatment and research decisions in medical settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Victoria A. Miller & Richard F. Ittenbach & Diana Harris & William W. Reynolds & Tom L. Beauchamp & Mary Frances Luce & Robert M. Nelson, 2011. "The Decision Making Control Instrument to Assess Voluntary Consent," Medical Decision Making, , vol. 31(5), pages 730-741, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:medema:v:31:y:2011:i:5:p:730-741
    DOI: 10.1177/0272989X11398666
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