title: Institutional review board variability in minimal-risk multicenter urogynecology studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate variability among local institutional review boards (IRBs) in the review process of standardized multicenter urogynecologic studies with common protocols.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study of the IRB review and approval process for common urogynecologic protocols of 4 minimal-risk multicenter studies conducted within the Fellow's Pelvic Research Network (FPRN), including prospective cohort, retrospective review, and case-control studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the 22 network sites (73%) were in academic institutions. The level of IRB review varied by site and study design. Institutional review boards had local requirements regarding standard format and language that resulted in 86% of consent documents and 33% of protocols being changed before submission. Institutional review boards queried most (55%) submissions, with significantly more queries for prospective studies compared to retrospective studies (78.6% vs 35.3%; P = 0.03). After submission, IRB requirements necessitated changes for 71% of consents and 28% of protocols. There were no substantive changes made to any consent document or protocol. There was considerable variability in time between IRB submission and approval (10 ± 3 days; range, 7-12 days for exempt; 22 ± 17 days; range, 1-57 days for expedited; and 34 ± 32 days; range, 13-81 days for full board reviews).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We detected considerable variability in IRB review of standardized multicenter protocols across minimal-risk study designs. Reduction in variability may improve expediency of multicenter studies while maintaining the highest level of protections for research participants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. hharvie@obgyn.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Heidi S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Harvie
authors.forename: Lior
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lowenstein
authors.forename: Tola B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Omotosho
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sanses
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Molden
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brubaker
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes / Q000145:classification / Q000941:ethics; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards*; D032962:Consent Forms / Q000592:standards*; D028744:Ethics Committees, Research / Q000592:standards*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D012107:Research Design / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D020379:Risk Adjustment; D014572:Urology