What is meant by Minimal Risk?
Minimal risk is research in which any foreseeable risk to participants and/or researchers is no more than Inconvenience. Inconvenience can include:
- filling in a form
- participating in a survey
- giving up time to participate in research
If, after completing the checklist in THEMIS, a project is considered to be Minimal Risk, THEMIS will ask the researcher to complete the Minimal Risk form for review by the HEAG. Note that the HEAG (not the researcher) decides whether the application is eligible for minimal risk review.
If the proposed research could lead to Discomfort it is NOT considered to be minimal risk and a Project Application (Application for Approval of a Project Involving Human Participants) should be completed via THEMIS.
Examples of discomfort include:
- minor side-effects of medication
- the discomforts related to measuring blood pressure
- anxiety induced by an interview
Projects involving the use of extracted teeth are generally classed as minimal risk. However, some additional information will need to be provided to the HEAG.