Table 3 Overarching themes and examples

Level of acceptability of deferred consent

Stakeholders’ general level of acceptance towards the use of deferred consent

‘Without disclosure of study outcome, patients and surrogates were glad they were enrolled (90.3%), agreed with exception from informed consent use for their personal enrolment (88.2%), and agreed with the general use of exception from informed consent for the PAMPer study (81.7%)’ [23].

Research-related factors influencing acceptability of deferred consent

The effect that trial factors had on stakeholders’ views towards deferred consent; sub-categorised into risks associated with the research; perceived benefit of research; time critical nature of the intervention; levels of emotional stress at the time of trial recruitment

‘The majority (92%) of respondents were willing to be recruited to an emergency research protocol if there were minimal risks involved and 67% if the risks were moderate’ [30].

Personal characteristics influencing views on deferred consent

The effect of age, sex, experience, ethnicity, and other patient characteristics on views on deferred consent

‘Older subjects were less likely to offer an agreeable response regarding the use of medications and invasive procedures’ [26].

Data use after refusal of consent or participant death

The views of stakeholders regarding the use of participant data upon death or refusal of consent

‘If the relative or patient refused consent, 62% felt the information gathered up to the time of refusal should still be used’ [30].