Ethics as a Set of Principles of Moral Conducts - Essay Example

? Ethics in Healthcare Research Ethics in Healthcare Research Ethics is a set of principles of moral conducts consciously governing individuals or groups of people. Ethics calls for research and researchers to respect diversities in human societies as well as their multicultural nature (Denzin & Lincoln, 1994). It is a key element in the standards of successful and effective research in healthcare and must address the rights, dignity, well being and safety of both participants and researchers in the exercise. This paper will discuss ethical issues that should be considered in a research and its presentation, including monitoring mechanisms that ensure ethics are adhered to. Without emphasis on ethical features of a research, it may wrongly be assumed that no harm is inflicted on the participants. However, social scientists have recognized that there are risks the participants are exposed to by research and its publications (Hammersley & Atkinson, 1993). Participating in a healthcare research may cause distress and anxiety to the participants. Given its purpose of aiming at a proper understanding of issues, including exploring the participants’ beliefs for reasons and actions, a research will often be designed to be prying and inquisitive in nature (Denzin & Lincoln, 1994). Interviews are the best suited and most common means of quality data collection on sensitive subject matter. Depending on personal histories and experiences of the interviewees, the characteristics of the questions asked may rouse anxiety and distress among them. This is compounded by the uniqueness of each participant’s experience and open ended character of the research, which make it difficult to accurately predict or avoid some questions. For example, a study may be conducted on incidents of sore throats. The aspects the questions focus on may lead the interviewees to believe that previous episodes of sore throats that they had ignored as insignificant are actually signs of a serious disease (Small, 1998). It is the moral and ethical obligation of the interviewers to debrief them at the end of the exercise on its purpose. This reduces the potential for anxiety and distress. Informed consent of the interviewees prior to the research is necessary. Follow up care should also be availed to the interviewees. Misrepresentation is another ethical issue to be considered in healthcare research (Denzin & Lincoln, 1994). Although there are set standards and guidelines pertaining to research, it may safely be assumed that the analysis of researched data is significantly influenced by theoretical principles, commitment to duty, personal traits and perceptions of the researchers. This, in turn, may imply that the published versions of the results are not entirely the same as expressed by the interviewees. The misrepresentation aspect is relevantly significant because majority of researches in health service projects are designed to achieve specific views on the behaviors and perceptions of patients. They are, therefore, mainly controlled by predefined theories. These theories then determine the strategies of sampling, and are built upon by relevant interviewee characteristics such as social status, age and gender (Hammersley & Atkinson, 1993). Discrepancies in the data analysis and presentation may also be interfered with by the professional history of the researchers. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the researchers to bear in mind that an interviewee’s personal account contains his sense of identity and individuality (Small, 1998). If he loses power over how his account is interpreted and the way it is generalized, he also bears the risk of losing control and power over his self identity. By observing ethical conduct, researchers will understand that construction of identities for their interviewees risks a breach of respect for the interviewees’ independence and a possibility of negative stereotyping (Perks & Thomson, 1998). Misrepresentation can be reduced by making sure beginners in research are supervised by experienced ones with necessary contact at the analysis stage. Beginners should also be discouraged from working exclusively alone on projects, but involve colleagues. Another ethical consideration in healthcare research should be the identification of the participants, either by others or themselves. A pronounced nature of research is that it collects enormous amounts of information on interviewees’ lifestyles, illnesses and health, as well as their views on the topic, information on their social groups and family members (Hammersley & Atkinson, 1993). Because questionnaires used in the interviews have various clues as per the interviewees’ identity like name, residence, employer and social activities, keeping them anonymous becomes a challenge (BMA, 1999). Even after employing protocols to curb identity and enhance anonymity, speech style, context and quotations may give away the interviewee’s identity. Such exposure of identity is potentially injurious to individuals or communities because they can be subjected to typical stereotyping, reprisal and prejudice. On their part, the researchers should use infallible tactics for secure storage of transcripts. Initials or codified names should be used in the identity fields of their transcripts, and alter other identity details where possible. Keeping one interviewee safely anonymous makes it difficult to identify others by the elimination process (BMA, 1999). Another significant but often overlooked consideration in healthcare research is the interviewees’ convenience (Small, 1998). Depending on the topic or nature of research being conducted, some may require in depth, embarrassing interviews lasting over an hour. Others may require them to allow interviewers into their homes and privacy, or travel to research centers. Repeat interviews also fall into the inconvenience category. Informed consent is also significant to alleviate feelings of inconvenience. In conclusion, ethical standards can be maintained and monitored in healthcare research by proper training of the researchers (Perks & Thomson, 1998). In contrast to social scientists, health service researchers usually do not have training on political, philosophical and ethical training (Perks & Thomson, 1998). However, they may work within acceptable ethical standards by getting consent from participants, be ready to give them supportive information and hold their accounts in confidence. Researchers should also make it their responsibility to be as accurate as possible by avoiding overstating subjects and numbers. Limiting personal bias and seeking advice from experienced researchers is also prudent. Failure to publish results of a research could also mean that the researchers suppressed information. Researchers should acknowledge that it is unethical to suppress results even if they bore exceptions. It is acceptable that truthfully not finding anything of significance is as important as finding little of significance, therefore, all results should be published by the governing ethical rules (BMA, 1999). Ethical practice can also be promoted if the researchers, donor organizations and reviewers have a clear cut understanding of the methodology, purpose and scientific basis of the research. References British Medical Association (BMA) (1999). Confidentiality and disclosure of health Information. London: BMA. Denzin, N., & Lincoln, Y. (1994). Handbook of qualitative research. California: Sage. Hammersley, M., & Atkinson, P. (1993). Ethnography: Principles in practice. New York: Routledge. Perks, R., & Thomson, A. (1998). The oral history reader. New York: Routledge. Small, N. (1998). Meddling with mythology: AIDS and the social construction of knowledge. London: Routledge. Read More