RESEARCH | ETHICS IN NR

Ethics

• the branch of knowledge that deals with the moral principles.

• as the act of moral principles that the researcher has to follow while conducting nursing research to ensure the rights and welfare of individuals, groups or community under study.

CODE OF ETHICS

The American nurses association published the set of guidelines in 1995, ethical guidelines in the conduct, dissemination, and implementation of nursing research.

Principle of beneficence

• This is the most important ethical principle in research.

• Participants must be provided with maximum physical, psychological, social and religious comfort, and undue disturbances and time utilization of the subject should be avoided.

• scientifically qualified expert to avoid undue discomfort or distress to study participants

Principle of justice

• This principle directs the researcher to abide by the participants’ right to fair treatment and maintenance of privacy

• The fair and nondiscriminatory selection of the participant

• non-prejudicial treatment of individuals

• anonymity of participants and confidentiality of information must be maintained

Principle of respect for human dignity

• emphasizes the freedom of choice, where participants have the right to accept or reject to be a part of the research study.

• have full right to question the researcher for ' additional information or clarification of doubts.

• have the right to quit the study at any stage of the research study.

Participant information sheet

• It is important for the researcher to provide complete information to the participants about the research. Informed consent must be sought only after the participant has read and understood the information provided in the PIS

Informed consent form

• is a part of information consent document, which has declaration that I have carefully read (someone has read) to me and I am aware that I am being asked to participate in a research study.

Waiver of informed consent

• mandatory to obtain a voluntary informed consent from each research participant.

Online /electronic consent

• Electronic media can be used to provide information as in the written informed consent document, which can be administered and documented using electronic informed consent systems.

• process of electronic material’s method of documentation must be reviewed and approved by the IEC on priority.

Institutional Ethical committee

• safeguard the dignity, rights, safety and well-being of research participants.

Principles of essentiality

• By this principle the research involving the use of human participants is considered to be completely essential for the proposed research.

Principles of voluntariness

• Whereby respect for the right of the participant to agree or not to agree to participate in research or to withdraw from research at any time, is paramount. The informed consent process ensure that participants’ rights are safeguarded.

Principles of non-exploitation

• research participants are equitably selected so that the benefits and burdens of the research are distributed fairy and without arbitrariness or discrimination.

Principle of social responsibility

• planned and conducted so as to avoid creation or deepening of social and historic divisions or in anyway disturb social harmony in community relationship.

Principles of ensuring privacy and confidentiality

• the identity and records of the human participants of the research or experiment are highest kept confidential and access is limited to only those who are authorized.

• This cannot be disclosed without the written consent of the participants.

Principles of risk minimization

• caution and proper care is taken to ensure that the research participant are put to the minimum risk, at all levels of research and appropriate care and compensation is given if any harm occurs.

Principles of professional competence

• planned, conducted, evaluated and monitored throughout by persons who are competent and have the appropriate and relevant qualification, experience and/ or training.

Principle of maximization of benefit

• due care is taken to design and conduct the research in such a way as to directly or indirectly maximize the benefits to the research participants and/or to the society.

Principles of institutional arrangements

• research is being conducted have policies for appropriate research governance and take the responsibility to facilitate research by providing required infrastructure, manpower, funds and training oppurtunities.