[IxDA Discuss] Incentives in medical domain

[Elizabeth Bacon]

Hi Maral,

Dan is exactly correct. I work at a Fortune 100 medical device company, and
we simply have each participant in a usability test or any other IxD
research activity sign a consulting agreement that specifies the hourly rate
at which that participant will be compensated. Rates vary for role
(physicians get more than nurses, for example). We also use this agreement
to specify the non-disclosure aspects of the conversation, which is
important in many domains but especially touchy in medical device tech. I
would suggest you work with your company's legal department to employ the
same or similar agreements that are doubtless in place already for other
consulting relationships between your company & various key-opinion-leader
types.

Cheers,
Liz


-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Saffer [mailto:dan at odannyboy.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 8:35 AM
To: IxDA list
Subject: Re: [IxDA Discuss] Incentives in medical domain



On May 3, 2007, at 6:51 AM, Maral Haar wrote:

> I work at a company who develops medical devices. There are strict
> regulations concerning bribary in this domain. Becuase of that my boss
> is very concerned about giving incentives to nurses or doctors who
> participate in an usability test or a focus group or something
> similar.

Bribery is when you get a gift for nothing or the (unspoken) promise
of a later favor. Incentives for research participation aren't that
at all: they are instead about paying people for their participation
in your study, not for some possible favor. Medical professionals are
no different from other professionals in that their time is valuable,
as are their insights into your project. You are paying them for
their subject area expertise. It is standard practice and outlined in
the IRB:

http://www.fda.gov/oc/ohrt/irbs/toc4.html#payment

The legal issues are, as I understand them, around medical staff
accepting gifts from pharmaceutical companies/sales reps in return
for their prescribing their products.

Dan