title: A Case-Study of the Resources and Functioning of Two Research Ethics Committees in Western India.
abstract: Assessing the resources and functioning of research ethics committees (RECs) in low-resource settings poses many challenges. We conducted a case study of two medical college RECs (A and B) in Western India utilizing the Research Ethics Committee Quality Assurance Self-Assessment Tool (RECQASAT) as well as in-depth interviews with representative members to evaluate REC effectiveness. REC A and B obtained 62% and 67% of allowable points on the RECQASAT. These scores together with findings from the in-depth interviews suggest the need for significant improvement in REC effectiveness particularly in the areas of membership and educational training, organizational aspects, recording minutes, communicating decisions, and REC resources. Developing evidence-based best practices and strengthening infrastructure are essential to enhancing REC efficacy in low-resource countries.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of South Florida St. Petersburg (USFSP), St. Petersburg, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chenneville
authors.affiliation: 2 University of South Florida (USF), Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Lynette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.affiliation: 3 Government Medical College Surat (GMCS), Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Jayendrakumar
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kosambiya
authors.affiliation: 4 Medical College Baroda (MCB), Baroda, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Rajendra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baxi
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000941:ethics*; D003142:Communication; D003906:Developing Countries; D004493:Education; D028744:Ethics Committees, Research / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D032984:Ethics, Research; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D012577:Schools, Medical; D014495:Universities
keywords: IRB performance/quality/assessment/evaluation; in-depth interviews; international research; research ethics; research ethics committee/IRB review