Using a cartoon questionnaire to improve consent process in children: a randomized controlled survey

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an audio and animated cartoon questionnaire (AACQ) at improving consent process in child for biospecimen donation. METHODS A multi-center randomized and controlled survey was performed at two pediatric hospitals in China from 2019 to 2020. Children aged from 7 to 18 years in the pediatric surgery wards were invited to investigate the participants' willingness and attitudes for donating biospecimens. A total of 264 children, including 119 in the AACQ group and 145 in the TQ group, and 67 parents of children were analyzed. A separate knowledge test was acquired in the questionnaires. RESULTS Our findings showed that the response rate of the AACQ group (89.85%) was significantly higher than that of the TQ group (68.44%; p