The European Network of Research Ethics Committees (EUREC) has issued a position paper addressing the ethical considerations surrounding the compensation of research participants. This important document, adopted in June 2024, outlines the principles and guidelines to ensure fair and ethical compensation practices in health-related research across Europe.
More in detail, EUREC categorises compensation into four types:
1. Reimbursement for direct costs related to research participation.
2. Compensation for lost income, time, inconvenience, or incurred risks.
3. Incentives to encourage participation.
4. Tokens of appreciation as a reward.
Aligning with the WMA Declaration of Helsinki and CIOMS guidelines, the compensation must avoid undue influence, ensuring that financial incentives do not compromise participants' freedom to choose participation voluntarily. Moreover, participants must be fully informed about compensation arrangements, including the reimbursement process, within the informed consent form.
Research Ethics Committes (RECs) plays an important role in this process, as they must ensure that economically vulnerable individuals are not overrepresented in research due to financial incentives, balancing the need for adequate compensation with the risk of exploitation. In addition, they are required to determine the appropriateness of compensation in a context-dependent manner, while ensuring that compensation is not always monetary.
Finally, since there is a huge variation in national legislation regarding compensation, the paper emphasises the role of RECs in navigating these differences and promoting national guidelines to ensure consistency and fairness.
This position paper is the result of a survey conducted among EUREC members and a series of webinars held in late 2023. It provides a crucial guide for RECs across Europe to harmonise their practices, ensuring ethical and fair compensation for research participants.
For further information and to download the position paper, visit EUREC Position Paper on Compensation.
