Double agency in clinical research.
The current focus on evidence-based practice in nursing may result in nurses playing 2 roles concurrently--that is, acting as researcher and caregiver at the same time and with the same people. Given the fiduciary nature of the patient-caregiver relationship, this double agency can give rise to problems, both real and perceived. In this paper, the issues associated with assuming dual roles in research with humans will be examined, particularly in relation to recruitment and informed consent, data collection, and participant withdrawal from a study. In addition, strategies to prevent or minimize problems related to double agency are identified, with attention to the guidance provided by professional codes of ethics and the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans.