Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36564837›Full record

ArticleHealth research policy and systems2022

Strengthening research ethics governance and regulatory oversight in Central America and the Dominican Republic in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.

Julio Arturo Canario Guzmán, Jessie Orlich, Renata Mendizábal-Cabrera, Argentina Ying, Claude Vergès, Eleonora Espinoza, Mario Soriano, Elsy Cárcamo, Briana Beltrán, Eddys Rafael Mendoza Marrero and 7 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Health research policy and systems, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing 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

9 citing papers in PubMed.

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  4. Review
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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

17 authors.

Julio Arturo Canario GuzmánFundación Etikos, Inc., Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. jcanario@etikos.do.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2947-4165
Jessie OrlichInstituto Costarricense de Investigaciones Clínicas, San Jose, Costa Rica.
Renata Mendizábal-CabreraCentro de Estudios en Salud, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala.
Argentina YingUniversidad de Panamá, Panama, Panama.
Claude VergèsUniversidad de Panamá, Panama, Panama.
Eleonora EspinozaFacultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH), Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Mario SorianoComisión Nacional Ética de Investigación en Salud, San Salvador, El Salvador.
Elsy CárcamoInstituto de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitología Antonio Vidal, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Briana BeltránCentro Nacional de Educación Médica Continua (CENEMEC), Colegio Médico de Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Eddys Rafael Mendoza MarreroFundación Etikos, Inc., Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Reyna SepulvedaFundación Etikos, Inc., Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Claudia Nieto AndersonInstituto de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitología Antonio Vidal, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Nicole Feune de ColombiNuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Roxana LescanoAsociación para el Empleo de Animales en Investigación y Docencia, ASOPEBAID, Lima, Peru.
Eddy Pérez-ThenTwo Oceans in Health, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Trudie LangNuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Jackeline AlgerFacultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH), Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Funding

Medical Research Council MC_PC_19073World Health Organization 2020/1077908-0
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGood governance and regulatory supervision are required to conduct research in an international public health emergency context and to ensure compliance with ethical standards. The "Strengthening research ethics governance and regulatory oversight in Central America and the Dominican Republic in response to the COVID-19 pandemic" study is a regional effort in which research ethics stakeholders participated in addressing research ethics governance and preparedness response challenges to the COVID-19 pandemic in Central America and the Dominican Republic.

methodsA qualitative action research study was conducted following a participatory approach. Research ethics stakeholders in Central America and the Dominican Republic were mapped; a regional webinar and three virtual workshops were conducted discussing research ethics governance, ethics review and collaborative research practice during the pandemic. A roundtable session presented results and obtained feedback on a draft of a policy to strengthen regional research ethics governance.

resultsCountries across Central America and the Dominican Republic are at different stages in their development of research ethics systems. Countries with more established systems before COVID-19 were better organized and prepared to respond. This finding argues against improvisation and supports further work on strengthening governance of research ethics systems. Community engagement in research ethics public policy-making is practically absent in the region. Research and research ethics collaboration schemes are lacking amongst the countries; however, there are incipient initiatives in the region, such as the Central America and Caribbean Network of Research Ethics Committees. A policy brief with recommendations on how to advance towards strengthening the governance of research ethics systems was prepared and submitted to the Central American Integration System for analysis and possible approval.

conclusionNational research ethics systems in Central America and the Dominican Republic were unprepared to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to research oversight and effective collaboration. In most cases, national research ethics systems were found to be weak, and regional research collaboration was practically absent. To promote collaboration, a joint strategy needs to be developed with a regional vision towards sharing knowledge and best practices.

Indexed as

COVID-19PandemicsCentral AmericaDominican RepublicEthics, ResearchHumansCentral AmericaCollaborationCommunity engagementCOVID-19Dominican RepublicGovernanceHealth emergenciesRegulationsResearch ethics

Identifiers

PMID36564837
PMCPMC9786418

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.