Graduates of Caribbean Training Program Contribute to Strengthening Bioethics Systems,but More Support is Needed

Abstract

We conducted a retrospective pre-post study to determine the changes in research ethics-related practices that occurred after participation in a training program in the Caribbean. Using online questionnaires, we collected data on bioethics activities of alumni before and following training. Participants also indicated how else they thought the program could produce greater benefits. Of 40 English-speaking alumni, 20 (50%) completed questionnaires. There was greater participation in outreach education activities after the program (55%) compared with before (25%). No significant change was observed in other activities; however, at least half of the graduates served on research ethics committees, engaged in advocacy, or carried out bioethics-related duties in their jobs. Time constraints and insufficient opportunities were cited as reasons for not participating in more activities. Alumni also felt that they would have benefited from practical interventions such as internships. Graduates could contribute more to strengthening bioethics systems in the Caribbean with greater support from key stakeholders.

Keywords

bioethics research ethics capacity building Caribbean low- and middle-income countries

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Aguilera

Carracedo

Saenz

(2022). Research ethics systems in Latin America and the Caribbean: A systemic assessment using indicators. The Lancet Global Health, 10(8), e1204–e1208. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00128-0

Bhanji

Gottesman

de Grave

Steinert

Winer

L. R.

(2012). The retrospective pre-post: A practical method to evaluate learning from an educational program. Academic Emergency Medicine: Official Journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, 19(2), 189–194. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01270.x

Bolleddula

Simeon

Anderson

S. G.

Shields

Mullings

Ossorio

Bethelmey

Perkins

A. K.

(2022). No person left behind: Mapping the health policy landscape for genomics research in the Caribbean. Lancet Regional Health-Americas, 15(100367), 100367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2022.100367

BSEC. (2021). Bioethics Society of the English speaking Caribbean. https://bioethicscaribe.com

CARPHA. (2022). Caribbean Network of Research Ethics Committees. https://carpha.org/What-we-Do/Networks/CANREC/Caribbean-Network-of-Research-Ethics-Committes

Chaudhry

Thurtle

Foday

Leather

A. J. M.

Samai

Wurie

Parmar

(2022). Strengthening ethics committees for health-related research in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review. BMJ Open, 12(11), e062847. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062847

Daikeler

Bošnjak

Lozar Manfreda

(2020). Web versus other survey modes: An updated and extended meta-analysis comparing response rates. Journal of Survey Statistics and Methodology, 8(3), 513–539. https://doi.org/10.1093/jssam/smz008

Franzen

S. R. P.

Chandler

Lang

(2017). Health research capacity development in low and middle income countries: Reality or rhetoric? A systematic meta-narrative review of the qualitative literature. BMJ Open, 7(1), e012332. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-01233

Kass

N. E.

Ali

Hallez

Hyder

A. A.

(2016). Bioethics training programmes for Africa: Evaluating professional and bioethics-related achievements of African trainees after a decade of Fogarty NIH investment. BMJ Open, 6(9), e012758. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012758

10.

Loue

(2014). The impact of a research ethics Training Program: Romania as a case study. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics: JERHRE, 9(5), 46–55. https://doi.org/10.1177/1556264614552396

11.

Loue

Loff

(2013). Mentoring international research ethics trainees: Identifying best practices. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics: JERHRE, 8(5), 52–58. https://doi.org/10.1525/jer.2013.8.5.52

12.

Ndebele

Wassenaar

Benatar

Fleischer

Kruger

Adebamowo

Kass

Hyder

A. A.

Meslin

E. M.

(2014). Research ethics capacity building in Sub-Saharan Africa: A review of NIH Fogarty-funded programs 2000–2012. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics: JERHRE, 9(2), 24–40. https://doi.org/10.1525/jer.2014.9.2.24

13.

Rise

Oura

Drewry

(2022). Climate change and health in the Caribbean: A review highlighting research gaps and priorities. The Journal of Climate Change and Health, 8(100126), 100126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2022.100126

14.

Roach

A. N.

Braithwaite

Carrington

Marcellin

Sharma

Hingorani

Casas

J. P.

Hauser

M. A.

Allingham

R. R.

Ramsewak

S. S.

Bourne

(2016). Addressing ethical challenges in the Genetics Substudy of the National Eye Survey of Trinidad and Tobago (GSNESTT). Applied & Translational Genomics, 9, 6–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atg.2016.05.001

15.

Saenz

Heitman

Luna

Litewka

Goodman

K. W.

Macklin

(2014). Twelve years of Fogarty-funded bioethics training in Latin America and the Caribbean: Achievements and challenges. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics: JERHRE, 9(2), 80–91. https://doi.org/10.1525/jer.2014.9.2.80

16.

Smidt

Balandin

Sigafoos

Reed

V. A.

(2009). The Kirkpatrick model: A useful tool for evaluating training outcomes. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 34(3), 266–274. https://doi.org/10.1080/13668250903093125

17.

Whitworth

J. A. G.

Kokwaro

Kinyanjui

Snewin

V. A.

Tanner

Walport

Sewankambo

(2008). Strengthening capacity for health research in Africa. Lancet, 372(9649), 1590–1593. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61660-8