Awareness of pharmacy researchers about the national research code of ethics: A study from Jordan

Abstract

Objective In Jordan, research ethics have been subject to increasingly formal regulations and structuring. Recently the Ministry of Higher Education and Research Published the National Research Code of Ethics. However, little is known about the awareness of pharmacology researchers of this code and the extent of its applicability to their research. Methods Purposeful sampling through institutions’ websites was used to identify staff members with excellent profiles from 20 Faculties of Pharmacy in Jordan. After obtaining the required approvals, in-depth interviews were conducted, recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using NVivo 11 Software. The interviews followed a previously prepared and validated interview guide that covered various aspects of education, research, and training. Key findings Eighteen members of staff agreed to take part in the study. Qualitative analysis revealed three main themes each concerning respondents’ awareness of the National Code of Research Ethics in Jordan. The emerging themes were: the lack of awareness regarding the code of ethics, the need for clear guidelines for pharmacology research in Jordan, and the need for further workshops and training courses for pharmacology researchers. Conclusion This study highlights a lack of awareness regarding the presence of the National Research Ethics Code among pharmacology researchers in Jordan. This might have negative implications on medical research. It was thought that the code of ethics should be incorporated in postgraduate pharmacy education, training courses for pharmacy researchers, and workshops for pharmacy academic staff.

Attitudes Toward Providing Open Access for Use of Biospecimens and Health Records: A Cross-Sectional Study from Jordan

“… 7–9 Moreover, Jordan hosts several clinical study centers, some of which conduct clinical trials on behalf of international pharmaceutical companies. 10 The country also has a well-established cancer biobank, the King Hussein Cancer Center Biobank, which is the first ISO-accredited cancer biobank from a diverse ethnic MENA population. 11 …”