Vulnerability of adolescents in clinical research and practice

Abstract Adolescents are considered vulnerable and exposed to different threats to health group, making it necessary discussion about ethical aspects related to their participation in research and clinical practice. The employed methodology was an integrative literature review and it was selected studies that approached the subject “bioethical matters related to vulnerability of adolescents” within the last fifteen years. Nine articles included the pre-established criteria to the study, grouped into three categories: 1) works that mentioned the psychological-cognitive comprehension of adolescent to participate in scientific research; 2) works emphasizing aspects related to medical decisions; and 3) studies approaching the issue of sexuality in adolescence. The analysis of selected studies found out it is not possible to reach a valid consensus to all situations involving adolescents in research and clinical practice.摘要：青少年作为易受伤害且面临多种健康威胁的群体，因此有必要探讨其参与科研与临床实践相关的伦理议题。本研究采用整合性文献综述的研究方法，选取近十五年内围绕"青少年脆弱性相关生物伦理议题"展开的相关研究。最终共有9篇符合研究预设标准的文献被纳入分析，这些文献被划分为三大类别：1）探讨青少年参与科研活动的心理认知理解维度的研究；2）聚焦医疗决策相关伦理议题的研究；3）围绕青春期性议题展开的研究。对纳入研究的文献进行分析后发现，无法针对青少年参与科研与临床实践的所有场景达成普适性的有效共识。