The Tissue Issue; A cost-effectiveness analysis of consent procedures regarding the use of residual tissues for scientific research

The main research question of this study was: Which consent procedure is the most cost-effective for Dutch hospitals for performing research with patients’ residual tissues, focused on dermatology and gynecology departments? In this study it is found that the Opt-Out consent procedure is the most cost-effective of the given consent procedures. This is the case for both dermatology and gynecology departments. Essential in the cost-effectiveness is a nurse informing a patient about the consent instead of a physician; costs of a nurse are much lower than costs of a physician.