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Draft and edit with AI: Preparing great recruitment materials and consent forms for IRB review

Article by Tracey Collins

AI can be a helpful writing assistant for researchers. It’s available anytime to help you brainstorm, edit, and improve your writing—without replacing your voice or ideas. Just remember to fact check AI’s output and citations and always follow journal or funder rules about disclosing AI use. 

Featured Tip: Create participant-facing materials for IRB review 

To obtain valid informed consent for research involving human subjects, an Institutional Review Board (IRB) review will focus on three mandatory elements based on the Belmont Report and codified in federal regulations (like the Common Rule - 45 CFR 46.116). 

  1. Information: Participants must be provided with all relevant information about the research, including its purpose, procedures, duration, risks, benefits, and alternatives. This information must be presented in a way that is easily understandable to the prospective participant. 
  1. Comprehension: The subject must understand the information presented to them. Researchers are responsible for ensuring that the individual has comprehended the information before granting consent. This might involve using simpler language, checking for understanding, or providing ample time for questions. 
  1. Voluntariness: The subject's decision to participate in the research must be freely given, without coercion or undue influence. This means ensuring that no threats or excessive inducements are used to influence their decision to participate.  

In essence, these three elements ensure that individuals are treated as autonomous agents who have the right to choose whether to participate in research, according to HHS.gov. 

How it works 

AI tools like Grammarly, ChatGPT, and SciSpace Copilot can help with participant-facing materials by: 

  • Making sure your consent form includes all the relevant information about research (addresses Information, Voluntariness) 
  • Helping rewrite portions of consent forms at the right reading level (addresses Comprehension) 
  • Suggesting better wording and fix grammar; Improving tone and flow (addresses Comprehnsion and Information) 

Try This 

Paste your recruitment letter and/or sections of your IRB consent form into SciSpace Copilot or ChatGPT and ask: 

  • “Can you make this more concise and in an academic in tone?” 
  • “Can you rewrite this for a 6th grade reading level?” 
  • “Can you make sure this consent form covers the purpose, procedures, duration, risks, benefits, alternatives, and voluntariness – and makes sure the information is clear and concise?” 
  • "Can you give me a redlined version or side-by-side comparison?” 

Want to learn more? Duke Supported Tools And Services  

  • Duke ChatGPT: A secure, Duke-hosted version of ChatGPT that complies with Duke’s data policies. Ideal for sensitive or protected data (but not PHI), or internal content. Includes custom GPTs like Canvas Designer and QuizMe. Great for general writing help. 
  • My GPT Builder: Create your own custom GPTs with uploaded knowledge bases and tailored tools—perfect for labs, classes, or research groups.  
  • ChatGPT (Duke License): Access to OpenAI’s ChatGPT with Duke’s institutional license, including standard and advanced models. 
  • Microsoft Copilot:  Copilot is an AI chatbot that is accessed from your web brower, which helps streamline workflows by offering contextual assistance, automating routine tasks like writing and editing, and analyzing data. 
  • AI Gateway: For developers and advanced users, this tool provides API access to integrate AI into your own applications. 
  • Model Context Protocol (MCP): Enables dynamic data integration into chatbot interfaces—ideal for building smarter, context-aware research tools. 

Policy Reminder 

Duke encourages responsible AI use in research. When using AI tools:  

  • Always review and verify. 
  • Disclose AI assistance in grant proposals, manuscripts, or IRB documents when required.  
  • Avoid inputting sensitive or identifiable data into public AI tools.  

Learn More 

  • Join a training session to learn how to use these tools. 

When using AI tools, AI can help you write better and faster—just use it wisely and stay curious! 

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