Graduates of Caribbean Training Program Contribute to Strengthening Bioethics Systems, but More Support is Needed

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Medical Education
• Public Health

Background:

• Research ethics training is crucial for developing robust bioethics systems.
• The Caribbean region faces unique challenges in research ethics capacity building.
• Evaluating the long-term impact of bioethics training programs is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess changes in research ethics practices among Caribbean alumni post-training.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to alumni engagement in bioethics activities.
• To gather recommendations for enhancing the impact of bioethics training.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective pre-post study design.
• Online questionnaires administered to alumni of a Caribbean bioethics training program.
• Data collected on participation in various bioethics activities before and after training.

Main Results:

• Alumni showed increased participation in outreach education (25% to 55%) post-training.
• No significant changes were observed in other research ethics activities.
• At least 50% of alumni served on research ethics committees or engaged in bioethics-related duties.

Conclusions:

• Bioethics training can enhance specific activities like outreach education.
• Time constraints and limited opportunities hinder broader alumni participation in bioethics.
• Enhanced stakeholder support and practical interventions like internships are needed to maximize graduates' contributions to Caribbean bioethics systems.