Research ethics systems, processes, and awareness across Europe : radiography research ethics standards for Europe (RRESFE)

Bockhold, Sophie (author), McNulty, Jonathan P. (author), Abdurakman, Edwin (author), Bezzina, Paul (author), Drey, Nicholas (author), England, Andrew (author), Flinton, David (author), Khine, Ricardo (author), McEntee, Mark F. (author), Mekiš, Nejc (author)

Introduction: The Radiography Research Ethics Standards for Europe (RRESFE) project aims to provide a cross-sectional snapshot of current research ethics systems, processes, and awareness of such, across Europe together with identifying the associated challenges, education, and training needs. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey targeting radiography researchers in Europe was conducted. Data collection took place between April 26 and July 12, 2021, using a snowball sampling approach. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used to identify trends in research ethics frameworks across Europe. Results: 285 responses were received across 33 European and 23 non-European countries. Most (n ¼ 221; 95%) European respondents stated ethics approval is required before commencing research in their country. Requirements around research ethics approval and awareness of such requirements varied by European region (X2 (2, n ¼ 129) ¼ 7.234, p ¼ 0.013) and were found to differ depending on the type of research participant and study design. Additionally, European respondents reported ethics approval is a national requirement more often than their non-European counterparts (X2 (1, n ¼ 282) ¼ 4.316, p ¼ 0.049). Requirements for ethics approval were also associated with the undergraduate programme duration (2-year vs. 3-year vs. 3.5 year vs. 4-year vs. multiple programme durations; X2 (4, n ¼ 231) ¼ 10.075, p ¼ 0.016) and availability of postgraduate training (postgraduate training available vs. postgraduate training not available; X2 (1, n ¼ 231) ¼ 15.448, p ¼ <0.001) within respondents’ country. Conclusion: Respondents from countries with longer programme durations/availability of multiple programme lengths, availability of postgraduate training, and establishment of European Qualifications Framework Level 6 were generally associated with less uncertainty and more comprehensive research ethics requirements.

• Language: English
• Keywords: research ethics, radiography, education and training, challenges, improvements
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: ZF - Faculty of Health Sciences
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 11.08.2022
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: Str. 1032-1041
• Numbering: Vol. 28, iss. 4
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-138930
• UDC: 616-073.7:001.891
• ISSN on article: 1078-8174
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radi.2022.07.002
• COBISS.SI-ID: 119198211
• Publication date in RUL: 12.09.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Radiography
• Shortened title: Radiography
• Publisher: Elsevier, The College of Radiographers
• ISSN: 1078-8174
• COBISS.SI-ID: 383851

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 26.08.2022

Secondary language

• Language: Undetermined
• Keywords: raziskovalna etika, radiografija, izobraževanje in usposabljanje, izzivi, izboljšave