Radiography and Diagnostic Imaging, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland.
Division of Midwifery and Radiography, School of Health Sciences, City University of London, United Kingdom.
Radiography (Lond). 2022 Nov;28(4):1032-1041. doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2022.07.002. Epub 2022 Aug 11.
The Radiography Research Ethics Standards for Europe (RRESFE) project aims to provide a cross-sectional snapshot of current research ethics systems, processes, and awareness of such, across Europe together with identifying the associated challenges, education, and training needs.
A cross-sectional online survey targeting radiography researchers in Europe was conducted. Data collection took place between April 26 and July 12, 2021, using a snowball sampling approach. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used to identify trends in research ethics frameworks across Europe.
285 responses were received across 33 European and 23 non-European countries. Most (n = 221; 95%) European respondents stated ethics approval is required before commencing research in their country. Requirements around research ethics approval and awareness of such requirements varied by European region (X (2, n = 129) = 7.234, p = 0.013) and were found to differ depending on the type of research participant and study design. Additionally, European respondents reported ethics approval is a national requirement more often than their non-European counterparts (X (1, n = 282) = 4.316, p = 0.049). Requirements for ethics approval were also associated with the undergraduate programme duration (2-year vs. 3-year vs. 3.5 year vs. 4-year vs. multiple programme durations; X (4, n = 231) = 10.075, p = 0.016) and availability of postgraduate training (postgraduate training available vs. postgraduate training not available; X (1, n = 231) = 15.448, p = <0.001) within respondents' country.
Respondents from countries with longer programme durations/availability of multiple programme lengths, availability of postgraduate training, and establishment of European Qualifications Framework Level 6 were generally associated with less uncertainty and more comprehensive research ethics requirements.
Results are informative of the current status of research ethics within evidence-based radiography.
放射学研究伦理标准在欧洲（RRESFE）项目旨在提供一个欧洲当前研究伦理系统、流程和意识的横断面快照，同时确定相关挑战、教育和培训需求。
针对欧洲的放射学研究人员进行了横断面在线调查。数据收集于 2021 年 4 月 26 日至 7 月 12 日期间采用滚雪球抽样法进行。使用描述性和分析性统计数据来确定欧洲研究伦理框架的趋势。
在 33 个欧洲国家和 23 个非欧洲国家共收到 285 份回复。大多数（n=221；95%）欧洲受访者表示，在本国开展研究前需要获得伦理批准。欧洲地区的研究伦理批准要求和对这些要求的认识存在差异（X（2，n=129）=7.234，p=0.013），并发现因研究参与者的类型和研究设计而异。此外，欧洲受访者比非欧洲受访者更频繁地报告说，伦理批准是国家要求（X（1，n=282）=4.316，p=0.049）。对伦理批准的要求还与本科课程持续时间相关（2 年制与 3 年制与 3.5 年制与 4 年制与多种课程持续时间；X（4，n=231）=10.075，p=0.016）和研究生培训的可用性（有研究生培训与无研究生培训；X（1，n=231）=15.448，p<0.001）。
来自课程持续时间较长/有多种课程长度、有研究生培训以及建立欧洲资格框架 6 级的国家的受访者，通常与不确定性较小和更全面的研究伦理要求相关。
结果为循证放射学中当前研究伦理状况提供了信息。
