Advertising for Research Subjects

Children's IRB and Children's Marketing and Communications Department (MarComm) have developed guidelines governing all advertising for research participants.

If you have questions about these materials, contact IRB.

IRB Guidelines for Recruitment of Research Subjects

Recruitment of research participants may involve advertisement. Advertising may include brochures, flyers, newspaper ads, InHouse/Central Broadcasting ads, public service announcements or postings on Internet Web sites.

Advertisements require the review and approval of the IRB prior to printing, posting or distributing.

IRB Ad Requirements

All Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute advertisements for research participants must include:

  • A clear statement that the project is research
  • Basic purpose of the research and/or condition under study
  • Basic summary of eligibility criteria (e.g., age range, diagnosis)
  • A brief description of the project (e.g., whether it involves a blood draw, use of an investigational drug, or an interview)
  • A brief list of participation benefits, if any
  • Time or other commitment required of participants
  • Compensation, payment or inducement participants will receive *
  • Location of research
  • Contact information for the research team
  • Principal investigator's department/division and institutional affiliation
  • Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute logo (used per Children's graphic standards)

* If the amount or type of payment could unduly influence a child or parent's decision to participate, the IRB may decide not to describe payment in the recruitment materials.

How to Write Clear Advertisements to Recruit Research Participants

Use these guidelines (PDF 23KB) to write clear, effective advertisements to recruit participants for your research project.

Creating a Recruitment Ad

Create your ads using the research recruitment ad templates provided below.

Clip art is not permitted. Instead, please use photos from Microsoft. Under "Media Type," select "photos," and then search by keyword.

If there is a specific photo that you've seen on other Children's materials that you would like to use, request the photo from Nate Brown, MarComm Production Coordinator.

Advertisement Templates

Use these Microsoft Word templates to create effective advertisements for research participants.

Submitting the Ad for Approval

Submit the draft advertisement along with your other study application materials directly to IRB/Human Subjects Protection Program (HSPP). If you are sending hard copies, send to mailstop MPW 5-1.

Explain to the IRB how and where advertisements will be used and posted. When approved, the advertisement will include an IRB approval stamp with approval date.

Posting the Ad

Inside the Hospital

Flyers, advertisements and brochures may be posted in designated areas at Children’s Hospital (e.g., specific clinics, the community bulletin board outside of Tully’s, etc.). Please work directly with the clinics on posting and removing advertisements.

Advertisements may not be placed in elevators, hallways or public areas of the hospital.

Announcements can be posted in InHouse/Central Broadcasting by providing IRB-approved text to MarComm for posting. E-mail your request to Central Broadcasting.

Outside the Hospital

Researchers need to work directly with the sites on posting and removing their advertisements.