Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26495325›Full record

ArticleAJOB empirical bioethics

Knowledge of Federal Regulations for Mental Health Research Involving Prisoners.

Mark E Johnson, Christiane Brems, Aaron L Bergman, Michael E Mills, Gloria D Eldridge

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in AJOB empirical bioethics. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. A Scoping Review of Empirical Research on Research Ethics Board Membership and Expertise.Journal of empirical research on human research ethics : JERHRE · 2025
    Article
  2. Looking Beyond the IRB.The American journal of bioethics : AJOB · 2025
    Article
  3. Misconceptions About Working in Correctional Psychiatry.The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law · 2020
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Mark E JohnsonOffice of Research Pacific University.
Christiane BremsSchool of Professional Psychology Pacific University.
Aaron L BergmanSchool of Professional Psychology Pacific University.
Michael E MillsDepartment of Psychology Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles).
Gloria D EldridgeDepartment of Psychology University of Alaska Anchorage.

Funding

HIV, Drugs, and Prisoners: Barriers to Epidemiologic and Intervention ResearchR01DA020357 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE · PI ELDRIDGE, GLORIA D · 2007 to 2011
$3.0M
Evidence-Based Ethics and Mental Health Research with PrisonersR01MH082872 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE · PI ELDRIDGE, GLORIA D, JOHNSON, MARK E · 2009 to 2013
$2.7M
NIDA NIH HHS R01 DA020357NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH082872
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGiven their vulnerability to coercion and exploitation, prisoners who participate in research are protected by Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) regulations designed to ensure their safety and wellbeing. Knowledge of these regulations is essential for researchers who conduct and institutional review boards (IRBs) that oversee mental health research in correctional settings.

methodsWe explored depth of knowledge of OHRP regulations by surveying a nationwide sample of: (1) mental health researchers who have conducted research in correctional settings; (2) mental health researchers who have conducted research in non-correctional settings; (3) IRB members who have overseen mental health research in correctional settings; (4) IRB members who have overseen mental health research in in non-correctional settings; and (5) IRB prisoner representatives. Participants responded to a 10-item knowledge questionnaire based on OHRP regulations.

results1,256 participants provided usable data (44.9% response rate). Results revealed limited knowledge of OHRP regulations, with a mean across groups of 44.1% correct answers. IRB Prisoner representatives, IRB members, and researchers with correctional experience demonstrated the highest levels of knowledge; however, even these participants were able to correctly answer only approximately 50% of the items.

conclusionsAlthough awareness that prisoners are a protected population and that different regulatory procedures apply to research with them is likely to be universal among researchers and IRB members, our findings reveal limited mastery of the specific OHRP regulations that are essential knowledge for researchers who conduct and IRB members who oversee mental health research in correctional settings. Given well-documented health and healthcare disparities, prisoners could potentially benefit greatly from mental health research; increasing knowledge of the OHRP regulations among researchers and IRB members is a crucial step toward meeting this important public health goal.

Indexed as

Ethics CommitteesFederal RegulationsPrisonersResearch EthicsResearch Oversight

Identifiers

PMID26495325
PMCPMC4610195

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.