Ethical review of COVID-19 research in the Netherlands; a mixed-method evaluation among medical research ethics committees and investigators.

ABSTRACT:

Background

During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic there was an urgent need for accelerated review of COVID-19 research by Medical Research Ethics Committees (MRECs). In the Netherlands this led to the implementation of so-called 'fast-track-review-procedures' (FTRPs) to enable a swift start of urgent and relevant research. The objective of this study is to evaluate FTRPs of MRECs in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare them with the regular review procedures (RRPs).

Methods and findings

An explanatory sequential mixed method study was conducted. Online questionnaires and four group interviews were conducted among MREC representatives and investigators of COVID-19 research. In addition, data from a national research registration system was reques

SUBMITTER: IJkema R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8301608 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature