EBP module 2.2_RC_F2F-2

Evidence Based Practice

Module 2.2: Ethics and Types of Reviews

Acknowledgement of Country

• Acknowledge the Gadigal People from Eora Nation, Traditional Custodians of the water and lands where we meet.

• Respect to Elders, past, present, and emerging, along with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples present today.

Assessment Reminder

• Assessment 1: Test A

  • Opens: Week 4 Friday 12 pm (Midday NSW/VIC time)

  • Closes: Week 5 Friday 12 pm (Midday NSW/VIC time)

  • Open for 1 week

Outline of Content

1. Ethics in Research

2. Different Types of Reviews

   • Torrens University Australia

Discussion of Ethics

• Reflect on what the word ethics means to individuals.

Brief History of Ethics

1947: Nuremberg Code

• Established by the World Medical Association.

• A response to the unethical research from World War II.

• Introduced basic principles for medical research conduct.

1964: Declaration of Helsinki

• Further elaboration on the Nuremberg Code.

• Defined ethical principles to guide research including:

  • Informed consent: Freedom to choose participation.

  • Scientific Excellence: Ensuring high-quality research.

  • Minimizing Harm: Reducing risks to participants.

  • Confidentiality: Protecting personal information.

  • Conflict of interest: Ensuring unbiased research.

Understanding Ethics

Definition (Polgar & Thomas, 2013)

• Ethics: Moral principles guiding human behavior.

• Community values determine what is right or wrong in research, with a focus on participant well-being.

Principles of Human Research Ethics

• Research must:

  • Be worthwhile and beneficial to the community.

  • Uphold merit and integrity.

  • Respect human autonomy and freedom of choice.

  • Obligation to maximize benefit and minimize harm (Beneficence).

  • Ensure just allocation of research benefits and burdens (Justice).

Values and Principles of Ethical Conduct

• Promote ethical human research.

• Informed by the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2023 - NHMRC.

Ethical Considerations for Participants

• Special ethical considerations for:

  • Pregnant individuals and fetuses.

  • Children and young people.

  • People in dependent/unequal relationships.

  • Individuals unable to consent (e.g., medical assistance).

  • Individuals with cognitive impairments or those involved in illegal activities.

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

  • Participants in other countries.

Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)

Considerations by HREC

• Primary consideration is participant welfare.

• Assessment of:

  • Potential for harm and risks.

  • Balance between benefits and risks.

  • Ethical recruitment process.

  • Sufficiency of information for informed consent.

  • Confidentiality measures.

  • Special provisions for vulnerable groups.

Types of Reviews in Research

Secondary Sources

• General Literature Review: Comprehensive review of literature on specific topics for assignments.

  • Concise Literature Review: Short review in research paper introduction to contextualize research.

  • Primary Research: Original studies on a topic, providing first-hand data.

  • Secondary Research: Synthesizes information from primary research.

Knowledge Dissemination

• Summarizing and contrasting previous research findings.

• Identifying gaps in knowledge to guide future research.

• Always critically assess primary sources of information.

Systematic Review vs. Literature Review

Systematic Review

• Focused question, explicit methodology, systematic search criteria.

• Clear inclusion/exclusion criteria and article selection process.

• High-quality evidence synthesis.

Literature Review

• May or may not focus on a single question, no predefined protocol.

• Less structured, possibly influenced by reviewer's beliefs.

Key Aspects of Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analysis

• Systematic Review Characteristics:

  • Clearly stated objectives and eligibility criteria for studies.

  • Explicit methodology and assessment of risk of bias.

• Meta-Analysis:

  • Incorporates statistical combination of studies with related hypotheses.

  • Increases power and improves effect size estimates.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis

Advantages

• Comprehensive overview of existing evidence.

• Generalizable findings across populations.

• Time efficient compared to new study creation.

Disadvantages

• Difficulty in combining studies with different outcomes.

• Extensive time investment in review process.

Steps for Undertaking a Systematic Review

1. Study Objective: Define the purpose and key questions.

2. Develop the Protocol: Specify study designs, participants, and outcome measures.

3. Search Strategy: Identify databases and select keywords, include grey literature.

4. Evaluate Methodological Quality: Use scales (Jadad, PEDro, QUADAS) for study quality assessment.

5. Data Synthesis: Analyze similarities and differences in included studies.

6. Discussion and Conclusions: Integrate findings and suggest future research directions.

Special Considerations in Study Quality

• Ensure randomization and blinding to minimize bias.

• Evaluate loss rates and outcomes across study groups carefully.

Final Reminders

• Complete Test A and start on Assessment 2: Journal article summary.

References to Review and Correct

Examples to Correct

• Reference formatting and author citation guidelines shared from module activities.

• Reminder about correct in-text citations.

Questions

• Open floor for any questions, clarifications or further discussions.