title: Current status of the research ethics committees in Thailand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many research ethics committees (RECs) have been established to review biomedical research involving human subjects in many research institutes. The purpose is "To protect rights and welfare of human research participants". It is necessary to determine how many research ethics committees have been established in Thailand and whether they have a high enough standard toprotect the rights and welfare of human research subjects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the status of research ethics committees in Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty survey questionnaires were distributed by mail to medical schools of universities, public hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health, private hospitals, and research institutes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-eight questionnaires were returned. Thirty respondents had standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Twenty-two RECs had their own office while 36 had to share the office with other departments or units. Board meeting frequency was once a month. The average number of committee members was 14 and the majority was scientific members. Absence of nonaffiliated members was found in RECs (20.6%). Thirty RECs had never provided training for REC members and investigators, the other 48 provided training at least once a year Decision are made by consensus in 51 and majority vote in 14 RECs. Twenty-two respondents managed conflicts of interest (COI) by asking those members to leave the meeting before a decision was finalized. Thirty-nine RECs required continuous review after approval of the protocols.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strong support from the organization leader is a key factor to efficiency and high standards of REC operation. Developing a network of RECs will be useful for future development. REC members still need knowledge to better protect the rights, safety, and well-being of research participants.
authors.affiliation: Office of Research Development, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine and Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. sthpanich@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Suthee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panichkul
authors.forename: Punkae
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mahaisavariya
authors.forename: Nimit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morakote
authors.forename: Sumalee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Condo
authors.forename: Supak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caengow
authors.forename: Aphronpirom
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ketunpanya
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000941:ethics*; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D028744:Ethics Committees, Research / Q000592:standards*; D032984:Ethics, Research; D006805:Human Experimentation / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D035842:Research Subjects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand