Accommodating quality and service improvement research within existing ethical principles
Abstract Background Quality and service improvement (QSI) research employs a broad range of methods to enhance the efficiency of healthcare delivery. QSI research differs from traditional healthcare research and poses unique ethical questions. Since QSI research aims to generate knowledge to enhance...
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doaj-be5e88c8394148068d8f9e333c4555b22020-11-24T22:04:14ZengBMCTrials1745-62152018-06-011911610.1186/s13063-018-2724-2Accommodating quality and service improvement research within existing ethical principlesCory E. Goldstein0Charles Weijer1Jamie C. Brehaut2Marion Campbell3Dean A. Fergusson4Jeremy M. Grimshaw5Karla Hemming6Austin R. Horn7Monica Taljaard8Rotman Institute of Philosophy, Western UniversityRotman Institute of Philosophy, Western UniversityClinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteHealth Services Research Unit, University of AberdeenClinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteClinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteInstitute of Applied Health Research, University of BirminghamRotman Institute of Philosophy, Western UniversityClinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteAbstract Background Quality and service improvement (QSI) research employs a broad range of methods to enhance the efficiency of healthcare delivery. QSI research differs from traditional healthcare research and poses unique ethical questions. Since QSI research aims to generate knowledge to enhance quality improvement efforts, should it be considered research for regulatory purposes? Is review by a research ethics committee required? Should healthcare providers be considered research participants? If participation in QSI research entails no more than minimal risk, is consent required? The lack of consensus on answers to these questions highlights the need for ethical guidance. Main body Three distinct approaches to classifying QSI research in accordance with existing ethical principles and regulations can be found in the literature. In the first approach, QSI research is viewed as distinct from other types of healthcare research and does not require regulation. In the second approach, QSI research falls within regulatory guidelines but is exempt from research ethics committee review. In the third approach, QSI research is deemed to be part of the learning healthcare system and, as such, is subject to a different set of ethical principles entirely. In this paper, we critically assess each of these views. Conclusion While none of these approaches is entirely satisfactory, we argue that use of the ethical principles governing research provides the best means of addressing the numerous questions posed by QSI research.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13063-018-2724-2Quality and service improvement researchEthicsInformed consentRegulationResearch ethics committees |
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DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Cory E. Goldstein Charles Weijer Jamie C. Brehaut Marion Campbell Dean A. Fergusson Jeremy M. Grimshaw Karla Hemming Austin R. Horn Monica Taljaard |
spellingShingle |
Cory E. Goldstein Charles Weijer Jamie C. Brehaut Marion Campbell Dean A. Fergusson Jeremy M. Grimshaw Karla Hemming Austin R. Horn Monica Taljaard Accommodating quality and service improvement research within existing ethical principles Trials Quality and service improvement research Ethics Informed consent Regulation Research ethics committees |
author_facet |
Cory E. Goldstein Charles Weijer Jamie C. Brehaut Marion Campbell Dean A. Fergusson Jeremy M. Grimshaw Karla Hemming Austin R. Horn Monica Taljaard |
author_sort |
Cory E. Goldstein |
title |
Accommodating quality and service improvement research within existing ethical principles |
title_short |
Accommodating quality and service improvement research within existing ethical principles |
title_full |
Accommodating quality and service improvement research within existing ethical principles |
title_fullStr |
Accommodating quality and service improvement research within existing ethical principles |
title_full_unstemmed |
Accommodating quality and service improvement research within existing ethical principles |
title_sort |
accommodating quality and service improvement research within existing ethical principles |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Trials |
issn |
1745-6215 |
publishDate |
2018-06-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Quality and service improvement (QSI) research employs a broad range of methods to enhance the efficiency of healthcare delivery. QSI research differs from traditional healthcare research and poses unique ethical questions. Since QSI research aims to generate knowledge to enhance quality improvement efforts, should it be considered research for regulatory purposes? Is review by a research ethics committee required? Should healthcare providers be considered research participants? If participation in QSI research entails no more than minimal risk, is consent required? The lack of consensus on answers to these questions highlights the need for ethical guidance. Main body Three distinct approaches to classifying QSI research in accordance with existing ethical principles and regulations can be found in the literature. In the first approach, QSI research is viewed as distinct from other types of healthcare research and does not require regulation. In the second approach, QSI research falls within regulatory guidelines but is exempt from research ethics committee review. In the third approach, QSI research is deemed to be part of the learning healthcare system and, as such, is subject to a different set of ethical principles entirely. In this paper, we critically assess each of these views. Conclusion While none of these approaches is entirely satisfactory, we argue that use of the ethical principles governing research provides the best means of addressing the numerous questions posed by QSI research. |
topic |
Quality and service improvement research Ethics Informed consent Regulation Research ethics committees |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13063-018-2724-2 |
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