Relationships Between Community-Based Processes for Research Ethics Review and Institution-Based IRBs: A National Study

• Published in: Journal of empirical research on human research ethics Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 13 - 21
• Main Authors: Shore, Nancy, Drew, Elaine, Brazauskas, Ruta, Seifer, Sarena D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA University of California Press 01.06.2011; SAGE Publications; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Biomedical research; Collaboration; Communitarianism; Community based instruction; Community based research; Community health; Community relations; Community-Based Participatory Research - ethics; Community-Engaged Research; Data Collection; Ethics Committees, Research; Ethics, Research; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Human subjects; Humans; Institutional review boards; Interviews as Topic; Medical research; Organizations; Professional ethics; Research ethics; Research methodology; Research universities; research ethics board; community-engaged research; IRB; research ethics; institutional review board; community-based participatory research; REB
• ISSN: 1556-2646; 1556-2654; 1556-2654
• DOI: 10.1525/jer.2011.6.2.13

community groups are implementing research ethics review processes to determine whether and how research is conducted in their communities. We report on a survey of 109 of these community-based review processes about their relationships with institution based research ethics boards (I-REBs). Ninety-two percent reported that studies they review were also reviewed by an I-REB. Over half characterized their relationship with I-REBs positively. Those with positive relationships were significantly more likely to communicate with the involved I-REBs. Challenges when working with I-REBs included delays, communication problems, and lack of I-REB understanding of community-based participatory research. Strengthening relationships between community-based review processes and I-REBs could ultimately enhance reviews of community-engaged research.