scholarly journals Assessment of the Operational Characteristics of Research Ethics Committees in Ghana

2021 ◽  
pp. 155626462110511
Author(s):  
Samuel Asiedu Owusu ◽  
Grace Addison ◽  
Barbara Redman ◽  
Lisa Kearns ◽  
Paul Amuna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Research Ethics ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Ethics Committees ◽  
Research Ethics Committees ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Empirical Assessment ◽  
Research Protocols ◽  
Operational Characteristics

There were eighteen Research Ethics Committees (RECs) operating in Ghana as of December 2019 but no empirical assessment of their operational characteristics had been conducted. We assessed the characteristics of Ghanaian RECs using an existing Self-Assessment Tool for RECs in Developing Countries. We present results from nine RECs that participated in this nation-wide assessment. Our results indicate that the RECs are generally adherent to the recommendations in the Tool including being composed of members with diverse expertise. They also reviewed and approved research protocols as well as had access to some limited funding for their activities. There is no national policy on research human protections or an ethics authority to regulate the activities of the RECs. We recommend the establishment of this authority in Ghana while encouraging institutions to sustain efforts aimed at making their RECs operate independently.

scholarly journals Development of an Accessible Self-Assessment Tool for Research Ethics Committees in Developing Countries

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 85-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hany Sleem ◽  
Rehab Abdelhai Ahmed Abdelhai ◽  
Imad Al-Abdallat ◽  
Mohammed Al-Naif ◽  
Hala Mansour Gabr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Research Ethics ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Ethics Committees ◽  
Research Ethics Committees ◽  
Self Assessment

scholarly journals Assessing Research Ethics Committees in Myanmar: Results of a Self-Assessment Tool

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaw Zaw Oo ◽  
Min Wun ◽  
Yin Thet Nu Oo ◽  
Kyaw Swa Mya ◽  
Henry J. Silverman
Keyword(s):  
Research Ethics ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Ethics Committees ◽  
Research Ethics Committees ◽  
Self Assessment

scholarly journals A Case-Study of the Resources and Functioning of Two Research Ethics Committees in Western India

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 387-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany Chenneville ◽  
Lynette Menezes ◽  
Jayendrakumar Kosambiya ◽  
Rajendra Baxi
Keyword(s):  
Research Ethics ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Ethics Committees ◽  
Western India ◽  
Research Ethics Committees ◽  
Educational Training ◽  
Low Resource ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Depth Interviews

Assessing the resources and functioning of research ethics committees (RECs) in low-resource settings poses many challenges. We conducted a case study of two medical college RECs (A and B) in Western India utilizing the Research Ethics Committee Quality Assurance Self-Assessment Tool (RECQASAT) as well as in-depth interviews with representative members to evaluate REC effectiveness. REC A and B obtained 62% and 67% of allowable points on the RECQASAT. These scores together with findings from the in-depth interviews suggest the need for significant improvement in REC effectiveness particularly in the areas of membership and educational training, organizational aspects, recording minutes, communicating decisions, and REC resources. Developing evidence-based best practices and strengthening infrastructure are essential to enhancing REC efficacy in low-resource countries.

scholarly journals Challenges During Review of COVID-19 Research Proposals: Experience of Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University Research Ethics Committee, Egypt

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diaa Marzouk ◽  
Iman Sharawy ◽  
Isabelle Nakhla ◽  
Mostafa El Hodhod ◽  
Hoda Gadallah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Informed Consent ◽  
Research Ethics ◽  
Ethics Committees ◽  
Ethics Committee ◽  
University Research ◽  
Online Research ◽  
Research Ethics Committees ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Research Ethics Committee ◽  
Research Protocols

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an overwhelming increase in research studies submitted to research ethics committees (RECs) presenting many ethical challenges. This article aims to report the challenges encountered during review of COVID-19 research and the experience of the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University Research Ethics Committee (FMASU REC). From April 10, 2020, until October 13, 2020, the FMASU REC reviewed 98 COVID-19 research protocols. This article addressed the question of how to face an overwhelming amount of research submitted to the REC while applying the required ethical principles. Ethical challenges included a new accelerated mode of review, online meetings, balance of risks vs. benefits, measures to mitigate risks, co-enrolment in different studies, protection of a vulnerable COVID-19 population, accelerated decisions, online research, how to handle informed consent during the pandemic, and justification of placebo arm.

A Relational Ethical Dialogue With Research Ethics Committees

2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip J Larkin ◽  
Bernadette Dierckx de Casterlé ◽  
Paul Schotsmans
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Research Ethics ◽  
Ethics Committees ◽  
Relational Ethics ◽  
Research Ethics Committees ◽  
Research Application ◽  
Research Protocols ◽  
Life Issues ◽  
Qualitative Nature ◽  
End Of Life Issues

The aim of this article is to take relational ethics concepts and apply them to the context of application to research ethics committees for approval to carry out research. The process of a multinational qualitative research application is described. The article suggests that a relational ethics approach can address two issues: how qualitative proposals are interpreted by research ethics committees and how this safeguards potentially vulnerable respondents. In relational terms, the governance of a research project may be enhanced by shared ownership and willingness to engage in mutual dialogue. This challenges both researchers and research ethics committees to reframe their understanding of roles and functions in the assessment of research protocols, particularly those of a qualitative nature and those that address end-of-life issues.

scholarly journals A review of ethics in developing country in perspective of dental research

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Haider Ali Khan ◽  
Shamima Parvin Lasker
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Research Ethics ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Ethics Committees ◽  
Ethical Review ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
Research Ethics Committees ◽  
Dental Research

The objectives of this review were to examine the ethical issues in research in developing country and perspective of dental research. In this review, we performed the systematic literature search, screening process through the web in existing published and unpublished articles and reports that related to our topics between1990 to 2013. In the past few decades, the research and discoveries in the discipline of dentistry have increased dramatically. Recently many dental Institutes in developing country is constantly looking for opportunities to borrow, enhance, and integrate knowledge from biomedical and technological research by using modern technology. The retrieved information in this review reflect that to make any research involving human subjects ethically acceptable, a number of key features have to be considered by the researchers. Those who conduct oral health research are compelled by regulations and convention to follow established ethical standards to protect human rights. Bioethics and in ethical review of research in developing countries reveals many major gaps and have seen that there are indeed many ethical issues to be considered to clinical trials taking place in developing countries. Professional societies have a major influence in shaping the moral tone and ethical climate for research through the adoption of standards, the development of educational programs designed to reinforce those standards. Research ethics committees or institutional ethical review committees is to ensure that studies involving human research participants are designed to conform the relevant ethical standards and that the rights and welfare of participants are protected. Research ethics committees should not function under the influence of others and should ensures the favorable balance of potential benefits and risks. In developing country it is necessary to strengthen local capacity and manpower by developing innovative training models for ethics that are cost-effective and sustainable. The actions required to move ahead in this field include strengthening bioethics capacity, linking health research to community needs in a transparent and participatory process and increasing communication between scientists and ethicists in industrialized and developing countries. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bioethics.v5i1.18443 Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2014 Vol.5(1): 11-19

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