Ethical challenges in conducting research in low and middle income setting during public health emergencies: a qualitative evidence of a COVID-19 pandemic: the experience of Iran
Abstract Background Every minute during an epidemic is important and research in such conditions is for the benefit of the society. Considering that identifying experiences is a way to prevent repeated mistakes and prepare people to face crisis situations, this study aimed to explain participants’ e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Ethics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-025-01193-6 |
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| author | Ehsan Shamsi-Gooshki Alireza Parsapoor Soolmaz Moosavi |
| author_facet | Ehsan Shamsi-Gooshki Alireza Parsapoor Soolmaz Moosavi |
| author_sort | Ehsan Shamsi-Gooshki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Every minute during an epidemic is important and research in such conditions is for the benefit of the society. Considering that identifying experiences is a way to prevent repeated mistakes and prepare people to face crisis situations, this study aimed to explain participants’ experiences of ethical challenges encountered in conducting research related to Covid-19 in Iran. Method This qualitative study was carried out using conventional content analysis for 2 years from March 2020 to March 2022 in Tehran, Iran. A number of 30 people were selected in a purposeful method and information was obtained through semi-structured interviews. The participants in the study were people with positions including members of institutional and national research ethics committees, researchers, clinicians, university hospitals managers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The method of data analysis in this study was conventional content analysis using the Graneheim and Lundman method. Results Participants’ experiences on ethical challenges were explained through three themes: “substantive ethical values principles”, “the Research Environment”, “Research Governance and Management”. Conclusion This study examines ethical challenges in COVID-19 research across three domains: values, environment, and research governance. The results suggest the need to develop crisis-specific ethical frameworks, strengthen research ethics infrastructure and training, and establish more transparent standards and oversight systems. These findings could be useful in refining ethical policies and managing future crises. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e31f5a436e8543c2b2a7d01e9afcb288 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1472-6939 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Ethics |
| spelling | doaj-art-e31f5a436e8543c2b2a7d01e9afcb2882025-08-20T02:52:19ZengBMCBMC Medical Ethics1472-69392025-03-0126111710.1186/s12910-025-01193-6Ethical challenges in conducting research in low and middle income setting during public health emergencies: a qualitative evidence of a COVID-19 pandemic: the experience of IranEhsan Shamsi-Gooshki0Alireza Parsapoor1Soolmaz Moosavi2Medical Ethics and History of Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical SciencesMedical Ethics and History of Medicine Research Center, Department of Medical Ethics, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Every minute during an epidemic is important and research in such conditions is for the benefit of the society. Considering that identifying experiences is a way to prevent repeated mistakes and prepare people to face crisis situations, this study aimed to explain participants’ experiences of ethical challenges encountered in conducting research related to Covid-19 in Iran. Method This qualitative study was carried out using conventional content analysis for 2 years from March 2020 to March 2022 in Tehran, Iran. A number of 30 people were selected in a purposeful method and information was obtained through semi-structured interviews. The participants in the study were people with positions including members of institutional and national research ethics committees, researchers, clinicians, university hospitals managers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The method of data analysis in this study was conventional content analysis using the Graneheim and Lundman method. Results Participants’ experiences on ethical challenges were explained through three themes: “substantive ethical values principles”, “the Research Environment”, “Research Governance and Management”. Conclusion This study examines ethical challenges in COVID-19 research across three domains: values, environment, and research governance. The results suggest the need to develop crisis-specific ethical frameworks, strengthen research ethics infrastructure and training, and establish more transparent standards and oversight systems. These findings could be useful in refining ethical policies and managing future crises.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-025-01193-6Covid-19Emerging diseaseEthicsIranResearchPandemic |
| spellingShingle | Ehsan Shamsi-Gooshki Alireza Parsapoor Soolmaz Moosavi Ethical challenges in conducting research in low and middle income setting during public health emergencies: a qualitative evidence of a COVID-19 pandemic: the experience of Iran BMC Medical Ethics Covid-19 Emerging disease Ethics Iran Research Pandemic |
| title | Ethical challenges in conducting research in low and middle income setting during public health emergencies: a qualitative evidence of a COVID-19 pandemic: the experience of Iran |
| title_full | Ethical challenges in conducting research in low and middle income setting during public health emergencies: a qualitative evidence of a COVID-19 pandemic: the experience of Iran |
| title_fullStr | Ethical challenges in conducting research in low and middle income setting during public health emergencies: a qualitative evidence of a COVID-19 pandemic: the experience of Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ethical challenges in conducting research in low and middle income setting during public health emergencies: a qualitative evidence of a COVID-19 pandemic: the experience of Iran |
| title_short | Ethical challenges in conducting research in low and middle income setting during public health emergencies: a qualitative evidence of a COVID-19 pandemic: the experience of Iran |
| title_sort | ethical challenges in conducting research in low and middle income setting during public health emergencies a qualitative evidence of a covid 19 pandemic the experience of iran |
| topic | Covid-19 Emerging disease Ethics Iran Research Pandemic |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-025-01193-6 |
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