Ethics committee reviews and mutual acceptance: a pilot study

Abstract

Our (MA) model resulted in clear improvements in HREC processes and timelines. Stakeholder acceptance was high. This model provides a framework for a broader program of MA.

A guide to multi‐centre ethics for surgical research in Australia and New Zealand

“…This has resulted in the rapid increase of a number of such studies appearing before the ethics committees 6 . A number of papers have reported the cost, time, inconsistencies and possibility for subtle changes in the study, not to mention the frustration of establishing such projects resulting from multiple reviews 7–11 …”

“…In Australia, the need for a streamlined multi‐centred ethics application process has been recognized for some time, 10,11 and only recently has action occurred. A National Ethics Application Form (NEAF) was developed to improve the efficiency and quality of multiple ethics applications by providing consistent information to HRECs 12 .…”

Multi‐centre research in Australia: Analysis of a recent National Health and Medical Research Council‐funded project

“…Earlier reports have described a complex and tedious process to apply for REC approval to undertake multi‐centre research around the world. Previous researchers have reported a number of significant obstacles, which include uncoordinated and inconsistent application processes and a lack of multi‐jurisdictional ethical review 3–11 . In each of these cases, the administrative hurdles described have evidently led to increased costs and time restraints for both the researchers and REC involved.…”

“…Previous researchers have reported a number of significant obstacles, which include uncoordinated and inconsistent application processes and a lack of multijurisdictional ethical review. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] In each of these cases, the administrative hurdles described have evidently led to increased costs and time restraints for both the researchers and REC involved. In an attempt to enhance the process of ethics approval, some healthcare systems have developed centralized and even national approaches for consideration of multi-centre research including clinical trials (http:// www.nres.npsa.nhs.uk/).…”

Hospital ethics approval for a population-based case–control study of very preterm birth

“…11 Nevertheless, consultations and workshops and some individual efforts on mutual acceptance continue in an attempt to improve the situation. 12,13 Some success has occurred in simplifying the production of application forms. Within Victoria, the HREC of the Victorian Government Department of Human Services (DHS) together with leading hospitals developed a common core application form (CAF) which, with a variety of additional modules, aimed to reduce the work involved in seeking ethics approval for multicentre research projects.…”