Searching for an efficient institutional review board review model: Interrelationship of trainee-investigators, funding, and initial approval

Use of Template Documents with Guidance to Improve the Quality of Human Subjects Research Protocol Submissions to a Thai Research Ethics Committee

A pre-post study was conducted to evaluate the utility of template documents specifically created to assist research protocol submissions to a Thai research ethics committee (REC). A total of 172 protocols during the 2014-2016 preintervention period were matched to 172 protocols during the 2017-2019 postintervention period by type of principal investigator and REC review category. The intervention was associated with a significant reduction in initial REC requirement deficiencies in the information sheet and informed consent form, resubmission turn-around time by the principal investigator, and time form protocol submission to REC approval. The most significant postintervention improvements were for information about the consent process and listed risks of study participation. In this study, utilization of a structured protocol template with guidance instructions was associated with measurable improvement in the quality of research protocol submissions and REC review process.

The IRB structure and medical research reform

Optimal Independent Review Board (IRB) structure encompasses ongoing process improvement, ethics policies and continuous relationship building, all sound in evidence. With optimal IRB structure, a global research infrastructure will flourish. Evidence for IRB structure must be detailed and expert operational recommendations should guide. Too, health service research oversight should assist in funding as well as collaboration. A national and international research agenda will only benefit from best operations, guided in evidence, supported in best regulatory and research leadership practice. It is imperative that the IRB structure be reformed.