Ethical Challenges in Research Involving Hospitalized Patients: A Phenomenological Study

Hospital-based research plays a crucial role in advancing medical knowledge, but it also presents significant ethical challenges, particularly when involving hospitalized patients. Ethical concerns such as informed consent, patient autonomy, and the power dynamics between healthcare providers and patients are critical to maintaining the integrity of such research. The aim of this research was to explore and analyze the ethical considerations in conducting research involving hospitalized patients. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to investigate the experiences and perceptions of healthcare professionals involved in clinical or public health research in hospital settings. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 33 participants from both public and private hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring ethical themes. This study identified five key themes: (1) Ethical challenges in hospital-based research, (2) Informed consent and patient vulnerability, (3) Patient autonomy and decision-making in research, (4) Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and ethical oversight, and (5) Strategies to improve ethical research practices in hospitals. Participants reported concerns about coercion, difficulties in obtaining consent from critically ill patients, conflicts in surrogate decision-making, and delays in IRB approval. The findings also emphasized the importance of ethical training, continuous consent practices, and patient-centered approaches. Ethical research practices in hospital settings require a balance between scientific progress and patient protection. The study emphasizes the need for improved ethical guidelines, better informed consent processes, and ongoing training for healthcare professionals to ensure patient autonomy is respected. The findings also call for streamlined Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes to support timely and ethical research execution.