Define the role of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) when conducting research. Provide an example of a peer-reviewed research article involving human subjects and addressing a nursing practice issue. Discuss the ethical considerations the researchers considered when conducting the study.

Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to “RN-BSN DQ Rubric” and “RN-BSN Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.

Expert Answer and Explanation

Research concerning human subjects is a delicate process that could lead to ethical issues if not well monitored and regulated. The role of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is to protect the welfare, rights, and privacy of human subjects, by ensuring that research is conducted in an ethical and safe manner. The board has the legal authority to approve or disapprove any research activity that falls within its jurisdiction (Abedin et al., 2020). The IRB plays a critical role in ensuring that the research methodology being undertaken has the required safety protocols to prevent any harm from befalling the human participants.

One example of a peer-reviewed article involving human subjects is an article by Madan et al. (2023). The article was focused on evaluating the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of the ERAS pathway in patients undergoing elective loop ileostomy or colostomy reversal surgery. The study population consisted of 120 patients admitted for elective loop ileostomy or colostomy reversal. To conform to the ethical requirements, the researchers got approval from the Institute Ethics Committee (IEC). All participants in the study were issued with a written informed consent and patients were given full freedom to withdraw at any point during the study.

References

Abedin, Z., Teller, A., Ruotolo, B., Muhammad, K., Stiles, D. F., Ferreira, R., & Green, N. (2020). A personalized Institutional Review Board Liaison Service: Evaluation over its initial 30 months. International Journal of Academic Medicine, 6(2), 96–102.

Madan, S., Sureshkumar, S., Anandhi, A., Gurushankari, B., Keerthi, A. R., Palanivel, C., & Kate, V. (2023). Comparison of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Pathway Versus Standard Care in Patients Undergoing Elective Stoma Reversal Surgery-A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, 27(11), 2667-2675. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2023.11.016