Health Literacy and Consent Forms: Librarians Support Research on Human Subjects

Abstract

Poorly written consent forms could have negative consequences on participation in and outcomes of a research study. To help campus researchers use best practices in health communication with human subjects, librarians began teaching health literacy workshops and providing a consent form review service for principal investigators. Workshops have been well attended, and use of the editing service is growing. The library has become an important resource on campus for matters of health literacy and clear health communication. By assisting faculty in communicating clearly with research subjects, the librarians have contributed to university research efforts.