A further reason why biobank research systems should make clear their policy on return is that a growing body of empirical research suggests that many individuals want and even expect to receive their IFs and IRRs, especially if researchers find something serious.29,32–36 Thus, individuals may not only assume that they will be offered IFs and IRRs; they may desire such return. Individuals who want their results may feel their relationship with researchers should be reciprocal29,34,37 and that returning a serious finding should be a matter of “common courtesy.”34(p1446) Even though Beskow and Burke19 (p1) caution that the available studies do not reflect “participants’ nuanced preferences,” the evident desire for IFs and IRRs among many participants supports the importance of clarifying whether findings will be returned.
