Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
14:43
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Research Priority Setting Is Not Research: A Call for Ethical Clarity in Australia
Bec Jenkinson1, Gordon McGurk2, Jonathan Quicke3,4
1UQ Clinical Trials Capability (ULTRA), School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
The Medical Journal of Australia
|July 30, 2026
Summary
Research priority setting (RPS) in Australia is often wrongly treated as research needing ethics approval. Reclassifying RPS as pre-research involvement will speed up processes and improve community-centred research agendas.
Area of Science:
- Health Research Policy
- Research Ethics Governance
Background:
- Research priority setting (RPS) in Australia is frequently misclassified as research requiring ethics approval.
- This misclassification hinders collaborative, community-centred research by causing delays and resource diversion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To advocate for the reclassification of RPS as a pre-research involvement activity.
- To promote consistent national practices aligning with ethical guidelines for human research.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of current practices in research priority setting.
- Interpretation of recent revisions to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.
Main Results:
- Current practices misclassify RPS, leading to inefficiencies.
- Revisions to the National Statement support treating pre-research consultation as involvement, not requiring ethics review.
Conclusions:
- Institutions should recognize RPS as involvement, not requiring full ethics review.
- Implementing proportionate, non-ethics oversight for RPS will accelerate agenda setting and reduce research waste.
Related Concept Videos
01:56Ethics in Research
Today, scientists agree that good research is ethical in nature and is guided by a basic respect for human dignity and safety. However, this has not always been the case. Modern researchers must demonstrate that the research they perform is ethically sound.
01:17Ethical Dilemmas I
Ethical dilemmas in nursing are of utmost importance, as they often arise from the tension between adhering to core ethical principles and the practical realities of healthcare delivery. These dilemmas require nurses to navigate complex situations where competing ethical considerations pull them in different directions.
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
01:22Ethics and Bioethics
Ethics is a philosophical study of moral actions. Ethics attempts to determine what is valuable for individuals and society. It examines the rational justification of moral judgments and analyzes what is morally just, fair, and right. Bioethics is a sub-discipline of applied ethics that analyzes the philosophical, social, and legal issues in life sciences and medicine. Ethical theories serve as a foundation for decision-making and represent the viewpoints from which people seek direction. They...
01:27Ethical Issues
Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
01:30Ethical Dilemmas II
Resolving an ethical dilemma in healthcare involves a systematic approach that considers every aspect of the issue, respecting both the patient's needs and values and the healthcare professional's ethical obligations. Here are potential steps to resolve an ethical dilemma:
01:30Psychosurgery
Psychosurgery, the surgical alteration or permanent removal of brain tissue to alleviate severe psychological conditions, stands as one of the most radical and controversial treatments in the history of mental health care. Its development and application have evolved significantly, marked by dramatic shifts in scientific understanding and ethical perspectives.
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...