Last week, my study participant took a consent form home to read it and he signed it at home. He came in today – should I keep the date that he first signed the consent form?
No. The study participant should sign the consent on the day he/she comes in and is consented by the staff (with some exceptions including mailed consents). If he/she has pre-dated the consent, the subject should cross out that date and initial it, and then write down the date that they were consented by the research staff. It’s preferable that the staff member makes a note on the consent regarding the situation – it’s better to document everything.
