- Promote a Behavioral Ecological Systems Model.
- Every step of research has opportunities to demonstrate ethical practices.
- The research team should be familiar with the data management plan.
Module 2: What You’ve Learned
In this module, the behavioral ecological systems model was used to depict the various stakeholders involved in research with a focus on community-engaged research. The stakeholders range from policymakers to community members. When designing research to be inclusive of diverse populations, knowing the role and responsibilities of various stakeholders can be important to the overall study design, implementation, and success. Because these stakeholders must intersect, knowing how to navigate the landscape requires understanding and respect.
When research is approved to commence, the process of recruitment, enrollment and data collection begin. At every step are opportunities to demonstrate ethical practices, which provide the foundational support needed to carry out our research responsibly. Staff training is a critical step that must occur before interacting with prospective research participants. The research principal investigator is responsible for training staff or delegating that responsibility to a senior research team member. Research team members (e.g., students, community health workers, patient navigators) may have little or no prior formal training in research design. As such, training in the basic concepts of research is needed to provide the context for the steps detailed in the IRB-approved research plan.
Lastly, the research team should be familiar with the data management plan. This plan should include procedures for collecting, storing and sharing data. Moreover, it should define how data will be analyzed and the extent to which results will be shared with the community partners and research participants.
This last step of sharing research results is addressed in Module 3.
References
US Department of Health and Human Services. Code of Federal Regulations – Title 45, Public Welfare; Part 46, Protection of Human Subjects. Published 2018. Accessed June 14, 2022. https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/regulations/45-cfr-46/index.html
National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research (NCPHS). Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research. Vol 44.; 1979.
What Is the Clinical-Community Relationships Measurement Framework? | Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Accessed June 15, 2022. https://www.ahrq.gov/prevention/resources/chronic-care/clinical-community-relationships-measures-atlas/ccrm-atlas3.html
Bronfenbrenner U. The Ecology of Human Development .; 1981.
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Developing a Community Advisory Board for Research Toolkit | SC CTSI. Accessed June 14, 2022. https://sc-ctsi.org/resources/developing-a-community-advisory-board-for-research-toolkit
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