What is a primary objective of recruitment ethics?

• A. Ethical recruitment practices and ensuring informed consent.
• B. Paying participants above market rates to enroll.
• C. Rapid enrollment regardless of consent.
• D. Recruiting only from a single demographic.

Answer: (A)

Recruitment ethics centers on inviting people to join a study in a way that respects their autonomy and decision to participate. The primary objective is ethical recruitment and ensuring informed consent, meaning potential participants understand what the study involves, its risks and benefits, and their rights, including the ability to decline or withdraw at any time. This protects individuals and helps ensure that enrollment is voluntary and voluntary consent is truly informed.

The other options stray from this principle: paying above market rates can unduly influence someone to participate; aiming for rapid enrollment regardless of consent violates voluntary participation; recruiting only from a single demographic introduces bias and unfairness and undermines generalizability and equity.