The Process of Research: The Institutional Review Board

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Introduction
During the process of research, professionals collect data or identifiable private information through intervention or interaction. While this is a vital part of the scientific and medical fields, every precaution must be taken by researchers to protect the participants' rights. Ethics, outlined by the Belmont report; requirements, described by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); and regulations, laid out by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are verified by an Institutional Review Board (IRB). This procedure assures that all human rights are safeguarded during the entire research process.
The Institutional Review Board
The IRB is an administrative body which has been established to make sure research participants' rights are protected. IRBs review all aspects of the researchers' project: the study design, the recruitment process, the participant population, the informed consent document and process, the risk/benefit ratio, privacy and confidentiality, data storage and protection, and safeguards for vulnerable participants (University of St. Francis, n.d.). In this way, participants' rights are protected because the effort is made even before the research begins. The review process ensures that participants are chosen fairly and informed adequately and the information collected during research is safeguarded through collection, use, and storage. Research using human participants is such an important part of medicine that it is imperative it is performed in a way that its intrigue is not compromised.

The Institutional Review Board Process

Applying for exempt research study approval from the IRB at the University of St. Francis involves submitting a copy of the work, an application, and a...

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...ects of their study before presenting it to an IBR to be certain it does protect the particpants' rights of respect, beneficience, and justice. Research is an important component of medical advancement; but only if it is performed in an ethical way following all requirements and regulations.

Works Cited

U.S. Department Of Health & Human Services (2013). Health information privacy. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/special/research/ The University Of Iowa (2014). A summary of the Belmont report. Retrieved from http://hso.research.uiowa.edu/summary-belmont-report
University Of St. Francis (2010). Institutional review board: Policy manual. Retrieved from https://www.pdffiller.com/en/project/18274764.htm?form_id=19363729
University Of St. Francis (n.d.). Cutting through the red tape: A guide to navigating the IRB [PowerPoint slides].

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