老人知情同意的文化議題和挑戰

Cultural Issues and Challenges of Informed Consent in Older Adults

由於擁有多元文化和老化過程的老年人口極劇增加，執行老年人族群的知情同意將經歷複雜的議題，且此議題將成為從事老人研究者的一個挑戰。本篇文章最主要在探討知情同意的概念和相關的資訊於進行認知正常老人研究時的運用。一個被命名為「簡易太極運動課程」（simplifi ed Tai-Chi exercise program）的縱貫式研究被用來說明知情同意運用於認知正常老人研究時所遇的困境和知情同意的含意。對研究者而言，能感受被研究對象的文化以及在知情同意的過程中與他們建立信任的關係是重要的。

Owing to the dramatic increase in an elderly population characterized by cultural diversity and changes in the aging process, performing informed consent in the elderly population can involve complex issues are a challenge for researchers. This article aims to discuss concepts and relevant information concerning informed consent in studies with cognitively intact older adults. A longitudinal study entitled the simplifi ed Tai-Chi exercise program (STEP) was utilized to explain the dilemma and implications of informed consent for research with a cognitively intact elderly population. It is important for researchers to be culturally sensitive to their subjects and establish a trusting relationship during the process of informed consent.