This policy describes the responsibilities of the DUHS IRB and Duke Investigators when recruiting and enrolling students, employees, friends and family members as participants in research conducted under the DUHS IRB’s jurisdiction.  Published OHRP guidance, while allowing the possibility of enrolling these groups, emphasizes the need for carefully considering whether their inclusion can be justified since the investigator’s relationship with students, employees, friends and family members is potentially coercive.

This policy describes broader recruitment methods allowable for research protocols, and the IRB’s role in reviewing and considering the appropriateness of the recruitment methods in regard to the target population and the research objectives.

The policy describes what content can and cannot appear in study advertisements, flyers, and online postings.  The IRB must review the information contained in all advertisements and the mode of their communication.