Evaluating international research ethics capacity development: an empirical approach

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Bioethics Education
• Research Integrity

Background:

• The Fogarty International Center (NIH-FIC) has funded international research ethics education for 13 years, with significant investment in sub-Saharan Africa.
• A lack of comprehensive evaluation frameworks hinders the assessment of these vital training programs.
• Understanding training impact and success predictors is crucial for informed decision-making and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an original conceptual framework and methodology for evaluating research ethics training programs.
• To assess the inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes of these programs in resource-limited settings.
• To inform curricular improvements and funding priorities for international research ethics education.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel conceptual framework for program evaluation.
• Creation of a specific data collection tool for assessing training components.
• Detailed methodology for analyzing training inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• The paper introduces a comprehensive evaluation framework and data collection tool.
• The proposed methods allow for a detailed assessment of research ethics training programs.
• This work addresses a gap in the literature regarding the evaluation of international bioethics training.

Conclusions:

• The developed framework and tools provide a systematic approach to evaluating research ethics training.
• This evaluation is essential for optimizing training investments and improving outcomes for trainees and programs.
• The findings support evidence-based decision-making in global health research ethics education.