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Human Research Ethics Committee USM, Health Campus

Summary of Advertisement Guidance for JEPeM-USM

Mandatory Elements

Any public-facing advertisement (flyers, social media posts, radio scripts) must generally include:

  1. The purpose: Brief, straightforward description of the research condition.
  2. Basic details: Time commitment and location of the study.
  3. Benefits: A list of participation benefits (if any) or compensation.
  4. Contact: Name and contact information of the Principal Investigator or research facility.
  5. Voluntary nature: A statement that participation is completely voluntary and can be stopped at any time.
  6. Human Research Ethics approval:  Statement regarding JEPeM-USM approval (including reference number)

Prohibited Elements

To protect subjects, strict guidelines prohibit you from using certain tactics in recruitment:

  1. Coercive or misleading language: Avoid language that unduly influences participation, such as overemphasising compensation as a “lure.” Do not use terms like “free medication,” “new treatment,” “new medication,” or “new drug” unless immediately followed by a clear, prominent statement that the product is investigational
  2. False claims: Any suggestion that an investigational drug or product is safe or definitively effective
  3. Unapproved changes: Distributing or posting any advertisement before receiving formal JEPeM-USM clearance
  4. Exculpatory language: Do not include any exculpatory language (statements that release others from liability) in informed consent documents. This includes any text that requires participants to waive their legal rights or release the researchers, sponsors, or institutions from liability for negligence