Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40327687›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

How to implement a clinical ethics committee in an oncological research hospital: Qualitative results from a process evaluation study using normalization process theory (EVACEC).

Marta Perin, Morten Magelssen, Chiara Crico, Luca Ghirotto, Marco Annoni, Giorgio Gualandri, Ludovica De Panfilis

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

7 authors.

Marta PerinLegal Medicine and Bioethics, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Morten MagelssenCentre for Medical Ethics, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Chiara CricoLegal Medicine and Bioethics, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9742-515X
Luca GhirottoQualitative Research Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7632-1271
Marco AnnoniNational Research Council of Italy, Roma, Italy.
Giorgio GualandriLegal Medicine and Bioethics, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Ludovica De PanfilisDipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe Clinical Ethics Committee (CEC) of the Local Health Authority (LHA) of Reggio Emilia, Italy, is a multi-professional service established in 2020 to support healthcare professionals (HPs) in dealing with ethical issues in clinical practice. We evaluated the integration of the CEC into routine practice, 24 months after its implementation.

methodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with CEC members and LHA stakeholders involved in the service implementation. The interview scripts were outlined and transcript analysis was carried out following the four concepts of Normalization Process Theory (NPT): coherence, cognitive participation, collective action, reflexive monitoring.

resultsBetween June 2022 and January 2023, 15 participants were interviewed (12 CEC members and 3 LHA directors). All participants consider the service an important opportunity for HPs to be supported in complex situations (coherence). The CEC's President, a bioethicist working at the LHA, played a key role ensuring the CEC's participation and activation (cognitive participation). The main barriers to the CEC implementation were: financial sustainability, CEC members' lack of training, absence of in-person relationships (collective action). Overall, participants reported a positive experience with the CEC, however recommended several modifications (reflexive monitoring).

conclusionsWe identified key components to support the normalization of CECs and enable their activation within a clinical setting. An active and sustainable CEC must be visible, accessible, understood and trusted, clear in purpose, sufficiently integrated into the life of the organisation, adequately resourced, appropriately constituted and competent, accountable and independent. These findings can inform the development of practical strategies for CECs implementation and of appropriate outcomes for further evaluation.

Indexed as

Ethics Committees, ClinicalMedical OncologyFemaleHealth PersonnelHumansItalyMaleQualitative Research

Identifiers

PMID40327687
PMCPMC12054913

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LicenceCC BY
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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.