14720 Ethics in Healthcare: Institutional Review Board, Conflicts of Interest

Course overview

Discussion of institutional review boards (IRBs) and conflicts of interest (COIs) as they pertain to ethics in research. Discussion includes the role of the IRB in social, behavioral, and biomedical research, legal and institutional consequences of practicing outside IRB approved study protocols, how U.S. Public Health Service regulations relate to financial conflicts of interest (FCOIs), various forms of FCOIs in research, members of the research team who are subject to FCOI requirements, conflicts of commitment, conflicts of conscience, and institutional conflicts of interest (COIs). Maintaining ethical integrity when conducting healthcare research is crucial in order to ensure the trust and support of the public regarding research activities. IRBs play an integral role in monitoring the ethical integrity of research by reviewing research protocols to ensure that research participants receive safe and ethical treatment, that informed consent is provided, and that the potential for any COI is minimized. Healthcare providers who are involved in any aspect of the clinical research process must be educated regarding the functions of IRBs, as well as potential causes for COI in order to ensure that research is being conducted in an ethical manner and without bias. This program discusses the role of IRBs in research, consequences for practicing outside IRB approved study protocols, financial and other forms of COI, and management of various types of COI.